Buried the Lede

MaxedOutMama linked to the EU Observer's interesting speculation on changes in the European legal environment should (oh, when) the draft Constitution takes affect. It's disappointing--but unsurprising:

[F]eminist and pro-abortion lobby groups are making it clear they want to use the provisions of the Charter to extend human rights protection in controversial areas, especially in countries with stricter legislation. . .

"The right to safe abortion is an internationally recognised right, but in some countries, like in Poland, Malta or Ireland it is only recognised in theory – if at all - while in practice it is almost or completely impossible for women to exercise it", Mrs Nowicka told the EUobserver.

She doubted that the charter itself could change this, but "at least it would be up to the EU to recommend what should be done so that citizens in, say, Poland, enjoy the same rights as those in Germany or other – more liberal - countries".

O. Henry would be proud: While the Supreme Court strains to re-make U.S. into Europe, the EU's aping American liberals by dumbing down the legislature to divert decisions to courts.

But wait, there's more: Activists and bureaucrats seem poised to turn back the clock 500 years and repeat Henry VIII's Dissolution (sometimes Visitation) of the Monasteries. In 1536, King Henry mostly needed the money. Europe wants more:

Opponents of the EU charter also point to a possibility of rulings against the Catholic Church provision on male-only priests. They argue this could be attacked on the basis of "non-discrimination" rights especially in those countries where priests are financed from public funds.

The truth-in-advertising British National Secular Society already claims the Constitution requires Britain and Italy to disestablish national religions:

The fundamental difficulty with religion being accorded special respect, or religious institutions being given privileged access, is that it disturbs the equilibrium of the scales of democracy. A significant proportion of public servants and politicians who hold positions of power in the EU have strong personal religious beliefs and whether or not they declare them, these will on occasion influence their actions. Such influence will frequently not be apparent to their employers or electorate, so the resultant actions will escape scrutiny by Parliament or the citizenry. Indeed, the Vatican has advocated that politicians should toe the Vatican line and that they should be punished by the Church for failing to do so. This is most obvious in the USA but is probably happening in the EU where, for example, prominent politicians belong to, or are influenced by, the ultra conservative Opus Dei. Any further special access or representation for religious bodies constitutes a duplication of this influence, which can often be to the detriment of those millions whose philosophical position is not bolstered by such formal representation. The EU's secular structure, that has served it so well, is under an unprecedented attack, through both overt and covert attempts to increase religious influence. This is anti-democratic and may well endanger social harmony.

I'm pretty sure Dingo wrote that.

I predict European ratification day will grow bigger than Christmas and the High Holy Day combined in the imminent Church of the Secular St. Dowd. And tougher to reverse than its beatified American cognate, Roe v. Wade.

(via MaxedOutMama)

More:

Austin Higgens spots Catholic church politics that -- though lawful -- are unfortunate.