What precisely makes the Western world superior to the Taliban-type fanatics out there are the values of freedom and democracy practiced within (mostly) secular societies ruled by (mostly) secular governments. We certainly don't need to take a step in the wrong direction by designating Europe as officially "Christian".

The Pope should spend more time on the problem of child-molesting priests instead of trying to create a state religion.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/06/20/summit.religion.reut/index.html

Demand for Christ in constitution
Friday, June 20, 2003 Posted: 1724 GMT ( 1:24 AM HKT)

Opponents say a reference to Christianity would offend Muslims and other religious groups.

PORTO CARRAS, Greece (Reuters) -- Four Roman Catholic countries Friday demanded a specific reference to Christianity in the European Union's first constitution.

Despite heavy lobbying from Pope John Paul II and Christian Democratic parties, a draft of the document presented to EU leaders Friday contained no mention of Christianity.

Italy, Spain, Portugal and Poland called for a rethinking when the final version is thrashed out in coming months.

While EU politicians have fretted about questions of national identity and federalism in the constitution, many Catholics have focused on the issue of religion, saying Europe should remain firmly rooted in its Christian heritage.

Only a small minority of Europeans are regular churchgoers, particularly in Protestant countries where less than 10 percent of the population attend regularly. In Roman Catholic countries like Spain and Ireland, the figure is closer to 20 percent.

The man who oversaw the creation of the draft constitution, former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, revealed Friday he wanted to include the word "Christian" in the preamble but failed to win enough support.

"Personally, I was in favor of having it in there ... but there was no consensus," Giscard, himself a Catholic, told reporters.

The fact the patrician Frenchman failed to persuade doubters suggests the battle might be lost, but the Vatican has now pinned its hopes on deeply Catholic Italy, which takes over the EU's rotating presidency from Greece in July.

"I believe that we will be able to reach an accord on this point combining an explicit reference to the secular nature of states and the values represented by Christian roots," said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who will chair many of the constitutional negotiating sessions.

The debate has taken on added urgency for Catholics as overwhelmingly Muslim but secular Turkey strives to start EU membership talks in 2005.

If Turkey were to join, the Vatican has expressed fears Europe's Christian traditions would be severely diluted.

Opponents on the political left say a specific reference to Christianity would offend the millions of Muslims and other religious groups already in the EU, while secularists argue politics and faith should be kept apart.

Giscard's draft preamble refers only to Europe's "cultural, religious and humanist inheritance."

Polish Secretary of State Tadeusz Iwinski suggested that be changed to "the cultural, humanist and religious, especially Christian, heritage" of Europe."