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The Patriots for Europe in the European Parliament has set up a working group on religious freedom and dialogue with churches and religious communities, MEP György Hölvényi said in Brussels on Wednesday. Kinga Gál, chairwoman of the Fidesz-KDNP EP delegation and first vice-president of the Patriots’ group, said that the Patriots consistently keep the unsustainable situation of persecuted Christians around the world on the agenda.
György Hölvényi, MEP of the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) was elected chairman of the working group at its inaugural meeting on Wednesday. He stressed that the Patriots’ working group is unique among the political groups in the European Parliament in that it openly and in its name stands up for the protection of religious freedom and for the continuation of dialogue with churches and religious communities.
Its aim is to give representatives of persecuted religious communities a voice before EU decision-makers.
It also aims to promote the importance of cooperation with churches and religious communities in the legislative work within the European Parliament, in particular in the fight against religious extremism,
he said.
☝Constitutive meeting of the Policy Group on Freedom of Religion and dialogue with the Churches and Religious communities by @PatriotsEP Our aim is to promote freedom of religion in dialogue with churches. Honored to be co-chairs with @MargaPisa pic.twitter.com/E4NFY790fa
— György Hölvényi (@HolvenyiGyorgy) February 5, 2025
The politician stressed that the working group considers it important to engage in dialogue to learn about the social teaching of the churches, as well as to learn about and exchange different church opinions on current events in the world in the context of general political debates. This is important, he emphasized, because the churches play an important role in society, both in Europe and beyond. However, European politics tries to marginalize this, he pointed out.
György Hölvényi underlined that
religious freedom is under attack in many parts of the world, especially for Christians who suffer various forms of persecution.
Religious freedom is a fundamental human right that must be upheld and protected, he said. The European Union must act to protect the world’s persecuted religious communities, which it has so far failed to do effectively.
The politician pointed out that the EU institutions have a duty to engage in a regular dialogue with the churches under Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty. However, it is “regrettable” that this dialogue, which is of strategic importance and essential from a humanitarian, human rights and moral point of view, has now become meaningless, empty and “bureaucratic and file-driven”. Patriots want to change this, György Hölvényi emphasized, adding that determination is not hopeless, but they have to work hard.
In a statement sent to MTI, Kinga Gál, vice-president of the Patriots, welcomed the formation of the religious policy group, stressing that it was set up at the initiative of György Hölvényi.
The figures are shocking, she pointed out, with one in seven Christians being persecuted for their faith. The Hungarian government will continue to play an important role in the protection of religious communities, especially those suffering from Christian persecution worldwide, through the Hungary Helps program, MEP Kinga Gál added.
Via MTI, Featured photo via Pixabay