Chaplain Anne M. Vandenhoeck on the European Union and its impact on chaplains

Editor’s note: As you will see, this article exceeds the word limit. A decision was made to allow this because of the need to provide a more in-depth explanation for our non-European readers, hoping that this will lead to a deeper understanding of what is happening for our European colleagues.

A Challenge for the European Network of Health Care Chaplains

The European Union (EU) has some issues to tackle. Before the summer started, a referendum in France and The Netherlands resulted in a “no”to the proposed constitution. In order to understand what that means, it is essential to know that the European Union is facing a cross road: either it will choose the direction of remaining a free market space or it will become a Community with political power. The Constitution was an important step towards the latter. A “no”vote from the public of two major European players is a sign of an underlying crisis. Specialists refer to two causes of uneasiness by the public: the growth of the European Union and the issue of admitting Turkey. The first reason has to do with the richer countries’fear of having to share resources and wealth with the mainly Eastern European countries, which are eager to become members. An important part of the public feels the Union is growing too fast and that there is a gap between themselves and the EU officials. The second reason has to do with the admitting of a Muslim country to the Union. Political issues, human right issues and freedom of religion play a major role in this discussion. It is also reasonable to state that the “no”vote of the French and the Dutch is a way to revolt against their national governments. It stands without doubt that the European Community has also other impending problems, like its financial plan for agriculture.

In the midst of all this turmoil the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy (ENHCC) attempts to integrate health care chaplaincy into the structure of the European Union. [1] Father Stavros Kofinas, coordinator of the ENHCC, and I went to Brussels last June to meet with three EU officials: Dr. Weninger, Policy Advisor Concerning Dialogue with Religion, Churches and Humanism and the EU, Dr. Trakatellis, Vice-President of the EU Parliament and member of the Committee of Public Health, and Mr. Schinas, Director of the Office of the Commissioner of Public Health. We were well received and two immediate results were noticeable: 1) The ENHCC became a partner in dialogue of Dr. Weninger, and 2) The ENHCC is negotiating with the Office of the Commissioner of Public Health to become a part of the EU’s ambitious plan on Palliative Care.

Two problems may occur in the new challenges that the ENHCC faces. The first has to do with the political situation of the EU as described above. In case the Union returns to being a free market space, issues like religion and spirituality will not be included. Even when the EU moves on towards a political power, there is a strong current to fight any attempt to include religion, churches or humanism in the structure and workings of the EU. An important part of the EU parliament advocates for a complete separation of “Church and State”stating that the European Union has nothing to do with religion, churches or humanism and thus neglecting the daily life of an important part of the public. [2] The second possible problem has to do with the internal workings of the ENHCC itself. Father Stavros Kofinas, coordinator of the network and representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, writes the following in his coordinator’s report:

“Our encounter with the members of the EU has placed the ENHCC on another level of maturation, giving it new challenges and opportunities. We must all ask ourselves if we are ready and willing to take them on. In order to respond to these challenges, it is necessary that we form an even more tightly woven Network, increasing interaction amongst our-selves and responding to the different aspects of the Network in a more positive way.”[3]

Up until now the Network has been a platform for national chaplaincies to exchange and share. The 44 representatives of chaplaincy organizations in 29 countries have been coming together every two years to exchange experiences, challenges and issues of health care chaplaincy. A committee of six members, including the coordinator and the webmaster, prepares the biannual consultations and keeps the Network going in the meantime, providing chaplaincies with information. But in between consultations, it is hard to get responses from the national representatives on occasions that require just that. There are some reasons for that. The main one probably lies in the fact that European chaplaincies are strongly organized per country. Every national chaplaincy organisation deals with its own societal and health care culture and its own religious or spiritual context. National chaplaincy issues take priority over European issues. And although many issues have a common ground, it is not easy to tackle them together.

There is also a language problem that cannot be underestimated. Twenty-nine countries mean at least as many languages, and English, although the official language of the Network, is not for everyone a second language. Another reason might be that chaplaincy issues are by many churches considered to be primarily an internal affair. Last but not least one has to emphasize that the Network is still very young. It was officially formed in 2000 and its constitution was approved at its last consultation in 2004. The new challenges brought to it by the EU contacts demand a growing engagement of the national chaplaincy organizations. It is therefore important that the national organizations are well informed about developments on all levels and find ways of cultivating a firm working relationship between each other and as a whole within the ENHCC.

The next consultation in Lisbon, May 2006, will be crucial in that matter. The theme of the consultation says it all: “Building bridges - Growing hope”. In growing, it will be important for the Network to be aware of the difficulties the EU has encountered: finding its own rhythm to grow both on an internal level and on the level of building bridges to other organizations, enhancing communication between its participants and the Network Committee. This offers a new challenge for all the participants of the ENHCC. Hopefully in Lisbon, the challenge will be met.

[1] Since 1990, representatives of European Chaplaincies have been coming together every two years to exchange their experiences in spiritual health care. In November of 2000, the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy (ENHCC) was formed at the 6th Consultation that took place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Based on the “Cretan Declaration”, the Network is the largest body composed of official representatives from all the Christian denominations and chaplaincy organizations of Europe, which provide pastoral care in various health care facilities. The Network aims at mutual sharing and understanding both on a religious, cultural and organizational level. It brings together the various chaplaincy experiences of all the health care systems in Europe. Today 44 organizations from 29 countries are represented in the ENHCC.
[2] A recent example again is the Constitution. Despite long discussions and pressures from religions and churches there is no reference to God in the European Constitution.
[3] The coordinators report of July 8th, 2005. For the full text please go tot our website: www.eurochaplains.org

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