The Vatican wants to turn the European Union into a de facto Holy Roman Empire. While this claim sounds absurd on its face, it is only logical given the Holy See's long-term goals and its vision of the European future. Although the prospect of coronating an emperor over Europe may be presently impossible, the Vatican still aims to unify the continent under one man wholly surrendered to the authority of the church.
Readers may doubt the truth of this statement, but to do so only underestimates the cunning and capacity of the Vatican. Its officials are constantly active throughout the E.U. superstructure, as well as in the various European national governments, striving to "bear witness" to Rome's spiritual and cultural authority. Its bishops and priests court various political leaders in an attempt to influence them to either convert to Roman Catholicism or to commit themselves to greater support for the Vatican agenda. While the bishops and priests work the individuals and the general population, the Vatican/Holy See diplomats work the governments and transnational organizations. All this unfolds on a daily basis--a massive, unending campaign that is coordinated from Rome with the express goal of expanding Roman influence across the E.U..
Make no mistake about it: the Vatican was overjoyed at the rise of van Rompuy. Roman Catholic officials celebrated the fact that one of their "own" had taken the highest position in Europe, and that he was fully dedicated to facilitating the "Christian" rebirth of the continent.
I say all this to preempt any questions from my readers to the effect of, "Why are you covering van Rompuy? He is not a Vatican employee." I answer, "Perhaps not in tangible terms, but he is without question one of those intangible assets that the Vatican can consider one of its own."
For this reason, I will be following van Rompuy's movements and statements on this blog just as if he were a cardinal or bishop. I think that my thesis--that this man aims to lay the political groundwork for a kind of "Holy Roman Empire"--will ultimately be proved in the long run.
This article comes from EUobserver.
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Van Rompuy makes debut at Turkey-sceptic gathering
Valentina Pop
08.01.2010 @ 09:23 CET
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Herman Van Rompuy on Thursday (7 January) delivered his first official speech as president of the EU council at a party gathering of Bavarian conservatives, just days after the group caused a stir in Turkey with a paper underlining its opposition to the country's membership of the EU.
Mr Van Rompuy explained his decision to attend the conclave of the Christian-Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, by saying that the EU "needs thriving national democracies.""Delivering a speech at a party gathering doesn't make you a party man," the centre-right Belgian politician argued, stressing that in his new EU capacity his "only master to serve" is the collection of EU leaders. The Bavarians had simply been quicker than other political parties to invite him, he added.
The CSU party is a long-standing opponent of Turkey's full membership of the EU, with a position paper confirming its stance leaked ahead of Mr Van Rompuy's visit.
The paper, published by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Tuesday, called for "an end to the painful EU accession negotiations" and replacing "Turkey's membership perspective with a privileged partnership."
Mr Van Rompuy's speech avoided touching on the Turkey issue. He mentioned enlargement, but only in regard to Croatia and other Western Balkan countries.
Turkish newspapers and politicians have decried the CSU's opposition to Ankara's EU membership bid.
Mr Van Rompuy himself in 2004 said Turkey is not a part of Europe. But since being appointed EU president he has stressed that his personal opinions are "irrelevant," as his job is to seek consensus among member states.
German foreign minister in Turkey
The CSU position paper caused problems for German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle, who embarked this week on a tour of Muslim countries.
The Liberal politician had to reassure his hosts of Germany's commitment to Turkey's EU bid, Die Welt reports.
"I have not come here as a tourist in shorts, but as foreign minister. What I say, counts," Mr Westerwelle said in Ankara, while underlining that his governing coalition, of which the CSU is also a member, had pledged not to block the negotiation process.
Meanwhile, bickering between the Bavarian conservatives and the Liberals has prompted Ms Merkel to call for a crisis meeting this Sunday and for a "fresh start" for the governing coalition.
