As Advisor representing AMASC at OMAEC in Europe, I have thought that you might be interested in knowing more about OMAEC. I offer a brief overview in the article "What is OMAEC?" followed by a report on the OMAEC Conference in Portugal. But I have also thought that you might be interested in having a perspective on Europe from a European, Europe being a topic which is much discussed at the moment.

Therefore you will find in these pages a short historical note on the construction of a united Europe, as well as as a statement (of great significance) delivered at the OMAEC Conference by a former pupil of the Jesuits.

Being neither historian, legislator or politician, I can't pose as an expert on the subject of Europe, but I would like to offer you certain opinions...my opinions.

'Europe is an ideology' was a newspaper headline some days ago...I didn't buy this paper as I already had another at home. Everyone knows that the term 'ideology' has certain negative connotations.

On returning home, my first urge was to look the word up in the dictionary...'i' for ideology...'a set of ideas belonging to a group, to an epoch, and representing a situation in history'.

Europe is very much an ideology of the moment, I said to myself, but is it not in the nature of ideologies to be current for only a relatively short time? What can one do to make sure that this ideology does not die as soon as it is born?

The scope is immense (from the Atlantic to the Urals) and the difficulties innumerable (the Balkan situation or that of Russia) and the differences between one nation and another, between one region and another are enormous...Can this really be done?

Already, in western Europe which I am familiar with, I know of the huge efforts which communities must make in order to accommodate each other...

For instance, in France, we have taken rather badly to the burgeoning rules and regulations emanating from unknown functionaries who write the rule books in their offices in Brussels. Who are these people, and what gives them the right to interfere in our daily lives? They forbid us from fishing in our rivers yet want us to accept homosexual marriage as a great step in the march of progress!

At other times they have objected to the traditional manufacture of our 'national' camembert (from raw and unpasteurised milk!) and would even like to put use-by dates on bottles of Bordeaux (poor ignorant fools!). I'm quite certain our German, Austrian, Italian, Spanish, English and Irish friends have similar tales to tell, sometimes exasperating, or serious, or just downright odd...

We're all confused, there's too much red tape and far too many rules...but, in the absolute sense, Europe is a wonderful idea, I didn't say an ideology, and we need to keep the faith.

Unlike the legislators, historians and political experts, so sure of their disciplines and whom I admire for this, I don't think treaties, summit meetings and solemn declarations are enough to unite us.

We need a higher concept.

Christian faith is a fundamental element in European identity, Christianity is the common heritage of all its peoples.

'If Europe is to be faithful to itself, it needs to know how to mobilise all the vital strengths of the continent while respecting the original character of each region, while finding in these roots a common spirit.' (John-Paul II)

On reading the Scriptures, everything makes sense: 'Happy are the peacemakers'.

To be a peacemaker is to strive to establish a brotherhood beyond frontiers; although these frontiers are also within us.

Concern for the spiritual dimension within the construction of Europe is of little interest to the media, which is why I have wanted to share this with you!