15/09/2015Influencing Europe1 David Fieldsend Manager CARE for Europe Brussels Office

15/09/2015 Influencing Europe 2 Twofold Mission Proclaiming Christian Truth Ensuring Christian voice is heard in public square promoting biblical ethical standards Demonstrating Christ’s Compassion Developed network of Caring Services aiding those suffering from society’s departure from Christian ethics

Influencing Europe Campaigning for Christian Ethical Standards Bioethics and Medical Ethics – The Primacy of the Right to Life Marriage and Family Life – Favouring Stable Nurturing Child Protection – Especially from Commercial Exploitation & Visual Media Content Human Trafficking – Better Support for Victims & More Effective Action against Perpetrators

15/09/2015Influencing Europe4 CARE’s Role in Brussels Monitoring upcoming European policy and law proposals Alerting CARE HQ and CARE supporters to these proposals and formulating a Christian response in liaison with CARE HQ Lobbying individual EC officials and MEPs, drafting briefing papers, addressing ‘Public Hearings’, drafting and lobbying for amendments to change these proposals

15/09/2015Influencing Europe5 Complex Institutional Structure with Checks & Balances Need to understand the structure to hit the right targets Although not a state government can analyse on traditional ‘separation of powers’ basis Where is the Power?

15/09/2015Influencing Europe6 European Council- sets the agenda European Commission-drafts text Council of Ministers & European Parliament – Adopt and/or Amend the text, (but can reject too) EU Legislative Process

15/09/2015Influencing Europe7 Religious Liberty Concern for religious freedom from the start. Nations previously hostile to the Christian faith are being transformed into lands of Gospel opportunity through process of applying for and becoming EU Members. Religious freedom rights now enshrined in Charter of Fundamental Rights, incorporated in the Treaties since Lisbon. However, the Charter has no hierarchy of rights and there are already calls in the European Parliament for other rights to override religious liberty.

15/09/2015Influencing Europe8 Recent Developments Mindset of elite and many NGOs has now parted company from Judaeo- Christian tradition New ethical agenda not being promoted on basis of reason or evidence, but ideology Favourite method of promoting ethical change is through asserting ‘rights’ not previously recognised & forcing those not in agreement onto defensive

15/09/2015Influencing Europe9 Changing Basis of Human Rights Earlier documents like UDHR recognised married family unit and parental rights Now everything focuses on autonomous individual, even assumed for ‘children’

15/09/2015Influencing Europe10 Emerging Trends Anti-Discrimination – from Tolerance to Affirmation- from given identity to lifestyle choices Anti-Hate Speech/Incitement – the loss of freedom of speech Loss of conscience rights through employment/service discrimination laws Reproductive Rights The ‘Right to Die’

15/09/2015Influencing Europe11 What This Means Christians must wake up to what is going on Christian politicians (we need more) must be prepared to be unpopular and insulted for Christ’s sake The Church must get behind those speaking up for Christian values in public life. Prayer & pastoral support is first priority

Lessons from Army Life The Pincer Movement – Mass Movement & Select Lobbying / Faith & Works Co-Belligerency ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend’ Using the secret weapon – ‘Don’t go beyond what can effectively be prayed for’ (Exodus 17:10-13)

Co-ordination is Key The European and the national political level have to be linked together Only a two-way flow of information and strategy co-ordination can win Therefore membership of networks, whether of political parties or NGOs with shared values is essential

15/09/2015Influencing Europe14 Influencing Europe David Fieldsend Manager CARE for Europe Brussels Office Historical Context