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Surprise, or even anger, will be the response of many Christians to the assertion that there is a Christian 'line' on Britain giving up the pound for the euro, says Ashley Beck, author of the booklet Christians and the Euro which was launched in July by Faith in Europe at its AGM in the Swedish Church in London.
In 1999 most of the member states of the European Union joined the Single European Currency, and their own currencies, some of them of great antiquity, disappeared for ever. At the time the government of the United Kingdom made it clear that it had no intention of joining in this enterprise. In the early years after the introduction of the euro, there was been much debate in Britain about whether and when the country should seek to join the eurozone, but very little in recent years. However, the financial and economic turmoil in Europe and the rest of the world since the summer of 2008 calls now for a re-opening of the issue. 
Ashley Beck vigorously argues a distinctive Christian case for the euro, drawing on theology and history, particularly the tradition of social teaching in the Roman Catholic Church. The 18-page booklet is easy to read but covers the ground thoroughly, with a discussion of the history and meaning of the euro leading onto an examination of Christian teachings on monetary stability. The author quotes Pope Paul VI: 'Nations of the same geographical area should establish forms of cooperation which will make them less dependent on more powerful producers; they should open their frontiers to the products of the area; they should examine how their products might complement one another; they should combine in order to set up those services which each one separately is incapable of providing; they should extend co-operation to the monetary and financial sector…' ; and he asks 'How can any Roman Catholic, at least, read these words and still be a 'euro-sceptic'? There is also a section on a briefing paper on the euro produced in 1998 by the then European Ecumenical Commission for Church and Society, representing Protestant and Anglican churches; and the booklet concludes with sentiments drawn from an important homily preached in 2002 by the then Archbishop of Birmingham, now the Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Revd Vincent Nichols. The author hopes his booklet will light the fuse for a much-needed debate. 'The churches and other faith communities have a contribution to make on the basis of our beliefs,' he says, 'so it is important that these beliefs are well-grounded.' Copies are £2, but free to members of Faith in Europe. To get yours contact the Secretary of Faith in Europe, Philip Walters, 81 Thorney Leys, Witney, Oxon OX28 5BY; tel.: 01993 771778; email: philip.max.walters@gmail.com |
