As the Czech Republic takes up the rotating presidency of the European Union, Prague Cardinal Miloslav Vlk has warned that Europe is dying out demographically and on the way to becoming markedly more Muslim.
"When the Irish said No to the Lisbon Treaty, they said it because the European Union and Lisbon Treaty have dropped the Christian roots," said Cardinal Vlk in an interview for Aktuálne.cz.
It was Christian politicians who developed the idea of unified Europe, Cardinal Vlk said. Italian politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party Alcide De Gasperi, former French Prime Minister Robert Schuman and German statesman Konrad Adenauer are regarded as founders of the European Union.
Cardinal Vlk also linked the European Union's flag to Christian values, noting that the flag was adopted on December 8, a day which celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary.
The EU flag bears a striking similarity to the image of Virgin Mary, he said.
Cardinal Vlk expressed strong disapproval of Islamic fundamentalism. "It is abuse of the Quran in the name of power. Islamic fundamentalism sets if someone does not live according to God, he must be killed. That is absurd," said Cardinal Vlk.
He said he believed in the dialogue between Christians and Muslims but "in terms of culture and opinions Islam is medieval."
"I do not want to sound negative... but in Islam a religion assumes the position of the state power and rules the people. Our European Christian experience proved that it is not the right way," said Cardinal Vlk.
Demographically dying out, Cardinal Vlk expects Europe to become markedly more Muslim in the 21st century because of the low fertility of Europeans the majority of whom are non-believers.
"Muslims in Europe have much more children than Christian families. That is why demographers have been trying to come up with a time when Europe will become Muslim," Cardinal Vlk claimed.
While European Muslims are living their religion, Europeans are "pagans, as they do not respect their religion". To face the danger of dying out, Europe needs to install a program of spiritual rehabilitation.
"If we do not restore Europe in terms of Christian values, we will surely die out," Cardinal Vlk said.
SOURCE
Europe is headed for Muslim future, says Czech Cardinal (Aktualne.cz)
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Cardinal Miroslav Vlk (Wikipedia)