Cardinal critical of EU’s ‘religion deficit’

HOSTILITY of the European Union to religion may have contributed to a rejection of the Lisbon treaty in June’s referendum, according to Cardinal Sean Brady.

The Catholic Primate of Ireland strongly criticised European policies, which he said undermined the institute of marriage and the right to life, making it more difficult for Christians to support the European project.

In a speech to the Humbert Summer School in Mayo, Dr Brady said: “As the recent referendum on the Lisbon treaty in Ireland suggests, at least some of those who were previously enthusiastic about the founding aims of the EU, both social and economic are now expressing unease.”