Slovakian bishops warn of 'spiritual struggle' after EU accession

Published: 2003-12-09

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- Slovakian bishops warned Catholics of a "spiritual struggle" after the country joins the European Union in May. "The future opening up before us is bringing new challenges -- we will only meet them if we are Christians who truly believe in Jesus Christ and are guided by his church," the bishops said in a late-November pastoral letter. The bishops said the country needed "Christians certain of their faith" and "united with the church community" who would work against Europe's current "one-sided focus on life's material aspects." "As Europe unites, a spiritual struggle is unfolding," the bishops said. "Many of those who wield political and cultural influence seek to restrict the Christian faith to the private sphere, to ensure it has no impact at all on the life of society. Yet holy Scripture tells us a faith without consequences is a dead one," they said. Slovakia's Catholic bishops supported the country's accession to the European Union. Their pastoral letter reflected their desire to ensure that the church's voice would continue to influence Slovakian society.

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