April 1, 2005
By Wolfgang Polzer
Special to ASSIST News Service
NEUENDETTELSAU (ANS) -- An “anti-Christian spirit” is spreading throughout Europe, according to one of Germany’s best-known evangelical theologians. Prof. Peter Beyerhaus regards the proposed anti-discrimination laws in several European countries as only one example for such “threatening tendencies”.
The missiologist was speaking at the Theological Convention of the Conference of Confessing Churches taking place in Neuendettelsau near Nuremberg, March 31 – April 2. In his view a “mild form of persecution” is taking place in the European Union (EU).
One of the victims was the Italian politician Rocco Buttiglione. The Catholic philosopher was nominated last year as EU commissioner, but Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals in the European Parliament rejected him because of his ethical and religious convictions.
Buttiglione called homosexuality a sin. But he emphasized that this was his personal conviction as a Christian and that he would respect European law and not discriminate against homosexuals.
Beyerhaus: “That goes to show that today attitude and not action is the determining factor for the assessment of an individual.” Many Christians were still not aware of the dangers of this development.
Beyerhaus condemned plans for an international gay and lesbian festival in Jerusalem. This amounted to an almost “apocalyptic degeneration” and a mockery of God in the very city where Jesus Christ had died for the sins of the world.
To counteract such anti-Christian developments Christians should form alliances across denominational and confessional borders. Beyerhaus regards such a confessing ecumenical movement as a historical necessity.
Wolfgang Polzer (54), is senior news editor of the Evangelical News Agency idea, Wetzlar (Germany), which he joined in 1981. His previous work included four years in the editorial department of the Salvation Army in Germany. In all, he has spent 27 years in Christian media. Wolfgang can be contacted by e-mail at: Wolfgang.Polzer@idea.de.
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