The Catholic Church wants Sunday observance enshrined in EU law. The European Parliament is debating changes to its Working Time Directive. The Vatican wants a clause in this law that would force every citizen in the European Union to rest on Sunday.
A hideously socialist piece of legislation, the Working Time Directive currently makes it illegal for those working, with some exceptions, in the EU to work for more than 48 hours a week. Workers in the UK are currently allowed to opt out of its provisions.
The bill is being revised. During the second reading, in October, seven Members of the European Parliament tabled an amendment saying that the minimum rest period “shall in principle include Sunday.” The Brussels-based Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (comece) agrees, recommending the directive should say “the minimal weekly rest must include Sunday.”
The amendment stated, “The likelihood of sickness in companies that require staff to work on Sundays is greater than in companies that do not require staff to work on Sundays. The health of workers depends, among other factors, on their opportunities to reconcile work and family life, to establish and maintain social ties and to pursue their spiritual needs. Sunday, as the traditional weekly rest day, contributes to these objectives more than any other day of the week.”
The amendment never went to vote, drawing criticism from Catholic bishops across Europe. Piotr Mazurkiewicz, secretary general of comece, was incensed. The protection of Sunday, he said, “is a cornerstone of the European social model and an issue of central importance for workers and their families.”
The Working Time Directive will be discussed once more in December, and Europe’s Catholic bishops want this issue brought up.
The pope has been a strong advocate of the revival of Sunday keeping. “Without Sunday [worship] we cannot live!” Pope Benedict xvi declared during a mass on September 9 last year, stating that it was a “necessity” for all people.
The prospect of a European government so powerful that it could declare one specific day a day of rest is a frightening one. This would be an EU willing and able to enforce lifestyle changes on its subjects, whether they liked it or not. It would be a Europe that enforced a state religion—Catholicism. The enforcement of Sunday worship will be the mark of a powerful, Vatican-allied, European superpower.
For more information, see our article “The Pope Trumpets Sunday”.
... the conflict between Christians concerning Sabbath worship CANNOT be overstated or IGNORED. It WILL be a determining factor in the end times ...
Here is an American equivalent to the ongoing efforts in Europe. Below is a cut/paste of their "about us" page:
Our Mission: The Lord’s Day Alliance of the United States exists to encourage Christians to reclaim the Sabbath–the Lord's Day–as a day of spiritual and personal renewal, enabling them to impact their communities with the Gospel. (They mean Sunday)
Our History: The Lord's Day Alliance of the United States (LDA) was founded in 1888. That year representatives of six major Protestant denominations met in Washington, D.C. to organize the American Sabbath Union; this name was later changed to The Lord's Day Alliance of the United States. The LDA has been the one national organization whose sole purpose is to maintain and cultivate the first day of the week as a time for rest, worship, Christian education and spiritual renewal.
Over its life, the LDA has worked toward the goal of preserving and protecting worker's rights to time away from work responsibilities to worship and honor the Lord.
Today, The Lord's Day Alliance stands on the edge of a great opportunity to proclaim the message of the Sabbath, a message of spiritual renewal and personal well being, in this fast-paced 24/7, 21st century American culture. (They mean Sunday)
Our Leadership: The LDA is led by a Board of Managers comprised of clergy and laity from Christian churches and includes persons from Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Friends, Lutheran, Methodist, Non-Denominationalist, Orthodox, Presbyterian, and Reformed traditions. (imo, images of the Beast)
Brian W. Hanse, a CPA and attorney from Wayne, New Jersey, and a third generation member of the Board, is the current President.
Co-directors Tim Norton and Rodney Petersen provide staff guidance to the LDA.
... until much consternation and critique arose, this organization actually promoted legislation to enforce Sunday worship on Americans, which is essentially the same as making Catholicism the National Religion of the United States. The Bible is very clear and has been repeated over and over on this site; Jesus (God) is the Lord of the Sabbath (Saturday) - Not MAN!
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