Atheists say EU privileging religious leaders over non-believers

[rug]

30.11.11 @ 17:53
By Leigh Phillips

BRUSSELS - The European Union is keen to involve religious leaders in a policy dialogue, as required by the EU treaties, while consultations with atheists appear to be more of a chore that Brussels is resigned to, representatives of European secularist organisations are complaining.

At the second annual 'summit' in Brussels between the three presidents of the European Union and representatives of atheist groups and freemasons, the secularists demanded to be put on an equal footing with faith communities.

"There is a clear preference for consultations with religious representatives," the head of the European Humanist Federation, David Pollock, told EUobserver.

Under pressure from church groups, and in particular from the Vatican, efforts to involve religious leaders in the crafting of legislation were surprisingly successful with the passage of the Lisbon Treaty, which, under its Article 17, requires a regular dialogue with religious associations, but also with "philosophical and non-confessional organisations".

http://euobserver.com/851/114456

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. If they didn't sense their upcoming irrelevancy and ultimate demise

They would not seem so worried. The religious folk, I mean.

[rug]

2. You do realize their complaints are directed at Brussels not Rome.

I mean, it's right there in the article.