Some British Christians Praying for Collapse of European Union

Michael Ireland | ASSIST News Service | Published: Apr 28, 2008

Some British Christians Praying for Collapse of European Union

LONDON -- A group of Christians in the United Kingdom is praying for the total but peaceful collapse of the European Union (EU).

OPERATION: UNITED KINGDOM is a project to raise awareness about what they see as "the growing tyranny of the European Union."

According to www.wikipedia.com , the European Union (EU) is a political and economic community of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Europe. It was established in 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht, adding new areas of policy to the existing European Community. With almost 500 million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 30 percent share of the world's nominal gross domestic product (US$16.6 trillion) in 2007.

In 2003, there was significant debate over the mention of Christianity lacking in the history of Europe contained in the draft European Constitution.

The Canadian website, "God and Christianity in the European Union's Constitution" run by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance at www.religioustolerance.org/const_eu.htm  states: "The first 15 draft articles of the constitution were released on February 6, 2003. They contained references to member countries' national identity and for human rights, as well as commitments to social justice and the environment. But they contained no mention to any deity or religion. German, Italian, Polish and Slovakian delegates favor adding mention of 'God' and Europe's Christian heritage. More secular nations, like France, Spain and the Netherlands are in opposition."

The Religious Tolerance group cited above says: "We are a multi-faith group. As of 2008-FEB, we consist of one Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Wiccan and Zen Buddhist."

An August 29, 2006 article by Nicholas Watt in Britain's Guardian newspaper states that Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was at that time pushing for a more Christian Constitution for the EU.

The article says: "Europe's 'Christian values' should be enshrined in a new version of the EU constitution, the German chancellor declared yesterday (August 28, 2006) after meeting the Pope." Merkel was slated to revive the flagging efforts to settle on a European Constitution when Germany assumed the revolving presidency of the EU in January this year.

The article adds: "In remarks which will reopen the debate on religion in the EU, Angela Merkel threw her weight behind Pope Benedict's campaign to recognize Europe's Christian heritage. "We spoke about freedom of religion," she said after talks at the Pope's summer residence near Rome. "We spoke about the role of Europe and I emphasized the need for a constitution and that it should refer to our Christian values."

The Guardian article stated: "Any attempt to mention Christianity -- or simply God -- in the text will be met by stiff resistance from secular France, from Britain, which treads carefully in this area, and from northern Protestant countries such as Sweden and Denmark. During the tortuous negotiations on the constitution in 2004 there were concerns that any religious reference could upset Europe's Muslims and Jews."

A web search revealed that The Lisbon Treaty (also referred to as Reform Treaty or "Simplified Treaty," among others) was signed on Dec.13, 2007 and is a replacement for the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. While the Constitution attempted to replace all earlier EU treaties, the Reform Treaty amends them. In this sense the formal title of the treaty is Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community.

The search revealed that The Lisbon Treaty (2007), which after the rejection of the Constitution for Europe modified the existing treaties, "(enhanced) the efficiency of the decision making process and democratic participation in a Union of 27 Member States."

The Operation: United Kingdom dedicated website http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ouk says the European Union is based on a 1942 speech given by Adolf Hitler.

The site explains: "This is an anti-European Union website. We are Christians who are praying for its total but peaceful collapse. We are aiming to make Christianity relevant to a new generation. We intend to ask God to continue to totally collapse the tyrannical European Union with immediate effect and for all European countries, including the United Kingdom, to become free and independent once again."

The site organizers say: "We have so far managed to get France and the Netherlands to vote against the European Constitution. Christian Revival will only begin when the European Union has collapsed. "

Those behind the site say their next big prayer request is for the people of the Irish Republic to vote against the European Union (Lisbon) Treaty on June 12, 2008.

"We aim to get as many churches and countries to join in as possible," say organizers.

Organizers of the anti-European website have posted this prayer on their site: "Abba Father, we fast and pray on this day in order to ask you to get the Irish people to vote 'NO!' in their referendum on the European Union (Lisbon) Treaty, to collapse the European Union with immediate effect, and to free the member countries so that they may become free and independent once again, in Jesus' name. We give you all the thanks, glory and praise. AMEN."

They also quote the following verse from 2 Chronicles 7: 14-15 at the bottom of their website: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place."

© 2008 ASSIST News Service, used with permission

Some British Christians Praying for Collapse of European Union