{"id":330746,"date":"2018-04-04T17:04:15","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T15:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdev.flars.net\/our-yes-to-europe\/"},"modified":"2018-04-04T17:04:15","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T15:04:15","slug":"our-yes-to-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/our-yes-to-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Our \u201cYes\u201d to Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since its inception 18 years ago the mandate of Together for Europe<\/em>\u00a0has been to work for the unity of God\u2019s people. The second mandate is the social dimension of Together for Europe. This mandate is presented with a new challenge today in view of the current crisis in Europe, namely to live constructive, long-term \u201ctogetherness\u201d in cultural and national diversity in Europe.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Unity is possible<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the Congress of Together for Europe<\/em> in 2007 Br Franziskus stated that “Unity and diversity have the same origin.\u201d [1]<\/a>\u00a0 Piero Coda said something very similar: “If God is Trinity, unity and diversity are not only not a contradiction but also of the very same origin.” [2]<\/a> \u00a0From the very beginning we identified with an image of unity which explicitly acknowledges and affirms the diversity given to us by God. Smoothing over differences endangers identity and can lead to unity in diversity being destroyed in both political and ecclesial circles.<\/p>\n

Unity in reconciled diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because of the many divisions between individuals, Churches and peoples, a reconciliation of opposites is needed to reach a reconciled unity in diversity which also applies to cultural diversity. Reconciliation is needed, rather than condemnation and exclusion.\u00a0 This removes the stumbling blocks along the path towards the future because it removes what poisoned our relationships in the past, so that the stranger, the person who is different is no longer seen a threat but as a gift. \u00a0As people reconciled in diversity, we experience the richness of diversity. Jesus in the midst is the one who unites. He gives us strength and hope for unity in reconciled diversity because Jesus Christ has reconciled the world with God.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cTogetherness\u201d lived as a prophetic sign <\/strong><\/p>\n

Our togetherness in Europe is lived out in practice through our relationships with one another.\u00a0 We set out towards others.\u00a0 \u201cTogetherness\u201d in Europe allows new relationships to be formed, fosters reconciliation and builds a future. It allows something of God\u2019s nature to be revealed by bringing about unity.\u00a0 It is therefore a prophetic sign.<\/p>\n

Prayer brings about change<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prayer is part of Together for Europe<\/em>\u2019s mission. We do not want to deprive this Europe of our prayers.\u00a0 Prayer brings about change.\u00a0 It changes us, it changes the atmosphere in our own country and in Europe, it changes people\u2019s hearts.<\/p>\n

Our hope and our \u201cYes\u201d to Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are committed to Europe because we have understood this as God\u2019s mandate for us. We say a decisive \u201cYes\u201d to a Europe of unity as well as <\/em>cultural and national diversity thereby revealing to us a positive image of Europe. We commit ourselves to a culture of \u201ctogetherness\u201d based on Christian faith.\u00a0 Our hope for Europe is expressed in 5 \u201cYeses\u201d.<\/p>\n

We say \u201cYes\u201d to a Europe of reconciliation<\/strong><\/p>\n

A new Europe has emerged from the miracle of reconciliation following the catastrophe of two World Wars.\u00a0 We receive the power of reconciliation from our Christian faith which enables historical wounds to be healed and leads to \u201ctogetherness\u201d in diversity.<\/p>\n

We say \u201cYes\u201d to a Europe of unity in diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n

We recognize that we are enriched by diversity. Multiplicity and diversity have the same roots. Both need to balance each other out.\u00a0 We are glad about those who are different and their charisms. \u00a0This interplay of charisms serves towards the unity of God\u2019s people and the unity of Europe.\u00a0 We advocate a federal Europe. We treat different backgrounds and perspectives with respect and appreciation.<\/p>\n

We say \u201cYes\u201d to a Europe of encounter, dialogue and peace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mutual understanding grows from encounters. This is one of our main experiences in Together for Europe<\/em>.\u00a0 We say \u201cYes\u201d to a Europe that seeks dialogue and chooses the path of negotiating for different interests. \u00a0The process of the unification of Europe and the EU gave us 70 years of peace within Europe. Anyone who over-emphasizes national interests will evoke the nationalist demons and will lead the way to the destruction of Europe.\u00a0 Anyone who denies national identity, denies diversity and makes it impossible for a European community to be formed.\u00a0 We encourage open political dialogue which promotes a peaceful Europe.<\/p>\n

We say \u201cYes\u201d to a Europe of mercy and humanity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Christianity has shaped the history of Europe. It is a faith that is open to the world. Humanity and mercy flow from Jesus Christ, crucified and forsaken and are shaping the continent and both are manifested in an unconditional \u201cYes\u201d to life, \u201cYes\u201d to marriage and family, \u201cYes\u201d to the poor and needy.<\/p>\n

Europe is more than the Euro, more than a market economy. We therefore advocate a <\/em>Europe based on its Christianity-Judaic heritage where openness towards those who think differently and live by a different faith is the norm. This is how the \u201csoul\u201d of Europe is being strengthened.<\/p>\n

We say \u201cYes\u201d to a Europe which over the course of history has been called by God [3]<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Its mission is to foster the collaboration between heaven and earth, to impregnate the world with faith, because heaven and earth have met in the Crucified One. Our mission for Europe also entails responsibility for Africa and the Middle East.<\/p>\n

The living God has entrusted a lot to our \u201ctogetherness\u201d which is why we want to publicly express our \u201cYes\u201d to Europe in our movements.<\/p>\n

Gerhard Pro\u00df,\u00a0Meeting of ‘friends’ of TfE, Vienna, November 2017 (abridged version)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> \u201cTogether on the journey\u201d ISBN 978-3-00-022045-6, Br. Franziskus J\u00f6st at the 2007 T4E Congress in Stuttgart, p. 21<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Piero Coda in \u201cChristian Culture in one Europe\u201d by Hanspeter Heinz [Hrsg], p. 33<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> P. Lothar Penners at the European meeting of friends in 2016 in Castel Gandolfo with reference to Pater Kentenich<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since its inception 18 years ago the mandate of Together for Europe\u00a0has been to work for the unity of God\u2019s people. The second mandate is the social dimension of Together for Europe. This mandate is presented with a new challenge today in view of the current crisis in Europe, namely to live constructive, long-term \u201ctogetherness\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":312921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Unity in Diversity: A New Vision for Europe's Future","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover Together for Europe's goal for unity amidst diversity. Embrace cultural richness through reconciliation and prayer. Join the movement today!","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2400,2435,3136],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-330746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2018-europe-day","category-experiences-reflections-and-interviews","category-news-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330746"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330746\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.together4europe.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}