As we go to the voting booths this week to decide who will represent us in the European Parliament, we need to vote for candidates who understand both the calling and responsibility of Christians to be light, salt and leaven in society.

Few Europeans today could tell you what these days stand for. Fewer still would have ever thought about the link between the two. 

When the guns fell silent in 1945, peace did not automatically follow. Europe was suffering a severe case of post-trauma stress disorder over the five fearful, bitter and anxious post-war years.

The ‘heroic virtues’ of Robert Schuman, were recognised by Pope Francis two years ago in the first stage of a long process towards canonisation. 

We can glibly confess that He is Lord of all, but do we really believe it? Can we see God’s hand of common grace at work in the public spheres, outside church circles? 

The hybrid State of Europe Forum’s theme ‘Seeking shalom’ (Paris), was addressed in three bi-lingual plenary sessions, seekingto ‘understand the times’ and ‘to know what God’s people should do’.

Today is Europe Day. For a generation, the ‘peace narrative’ meant little. For millions of new Europeans, war was not part of their story. Yet suddenly, all that changed in February.

The biography of Columbanus and Robert Schuman, is a unique contribution filling a major gap in literature on the making of Europe.

Seventy-five years ago this week, the forces of Nazi Germany formally surrendered to Allied Forces in what came to be called Victory in Europe Day. But the 9th May is also the seventieth anniversary of a three-minute speech by Robert Schuman.

VIctor Hugo’s perspective helps us realise we cannot take the privilege of voting in the European elections for granted. This weekend saw the highest turnout in the EP elections.

Sadly ‘integrity’, ‘incorruptibility’ and ‘honesty’ are not words often used to describe today’s politicians. That’s why we cannot leave our future just to the politicians.