European Church leaders call for protection of ‘Sunday rest’

Sofia Echo ^ | 11/22/2008 | live Leviev-Sawyer

[ReligiousLibertyTV]

Representatives of two European church groupings, in a meeting with a senior representative of the French presidency of the European Union, expressed concern about the rights of minorities around the world, especially where Christian minorities are persecuted, and discussed “the dramatic situation of Iraqi Christians whose extinction would signify a major injustice”. Representatives of Churches in Europe (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community – COMECE, and Conference of European Churches – CEC) had talks in Paris on November 21 2008 with French state secretary for European affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet. CEC is a group of about 120 Orthodox Christian, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations.

In a media statement, the two church groupings called on the EU member states and the EU institutions to make respect for religious freedom, which is a fundamental right, a major plank of their foreign policy.

. . .

The church representatives expressed their wish to see the Sunday rest day being better protected in national legislations as well as in the future EU working time directive which currently is being revised.

“In our societies and in our economies, where efficiency has become the ultimate criterion of valuation, Sunday rest allows the individual to be placed at the centre of society and calls attention to the fact that he is free and not the slave of work,” the church groupings said.

[tom h]

That was my initial thought too. The petition to use the law to keep the Sabbath holy was a sign of continued decline in the church, not the opposite.

Looks like you live in KC ... one of my favorite places in the world. I lived there 2 1/2 short years in the late 1980s, met my wife and was married there 21 years ago. It’s still one of favorite towns. Where’s your church? Most of our friends from back then moved to Overland Park after getting married and starting their families.

[Sacajaweau]

btt

[DouglasKC]

Thanks for the ping Chris. One of the theories (theories, not prophecy) I tend toward believing is that the Muslims are going to do something so atrocious, so outrageous, that many governments will say enough is enough and go after Muslims by whatever means possible. One of these measures will involve enforcing Sunday rest and worship as the “mark” of a non-Muslim. This is also going to extend to Jews, because they’re going to be thought of as part of the problem. Anyone who worships on a day other than Sunday is going to be suspect, including sabbath believing Christians.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

*** One of these measures will involve enforcing Sunday rest and worship as the “mark” of a non-Muslim.***

Why don’t you just come out and say it like the SDA people do in some of their literature.

“SUNDAY WORSHIP IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST, THE DAY OF THE DEVIL!”

I still have several old SDA pamphlets and books that claim this drivel.

[Uri’el-2012]

I wonder about "churches" that concern themselves
with "climate change"

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[DouglasKC]

Why don’t you just come out and say it like the SDA people do in some of their literature.
“SUNDAY WORSHIP IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST, THE DAY OF THE DEVIL!”
I still have several old SDA pamphlets and books that claim this drivel.

While I certainly think it's a sin NOT to obey the commandment to honor the Lord's holy sabbath, it's too early to tell if Sunday (or any other day of enforced worship) is the biblical "mark" of the devil. As I stated it's a theory. It could be wrong.

[Beeline]

So many of you people are way off the mark with this.
Sunday Rest laws in Europe was a suggestion that
will never gain serious legislative consideration much less pass in a continent that is approxiametly
5% practicing Christian. Meanwhile, laws and practices
towards Muslims have been accomodative and have been the standard.

Think of the he Muslim riots in France Summer 2006, combine
that with a recession/depression and food shortages, that is the template for Europes future. That continent will be
be enflamed with war again as nothing has fundamentally changed there that will prevent the errors of the past, namely WWI and WWII from happening again.

[Larry Lucido]

Sunday rest allows the individual to be placed at the centre of society and calls attention to the fact that he is free and not the slave of work

"Sunday rest" is a euphemism for "don't operate a business or you'll go to jail or get fined" and is NOT a symbol of freedom in any respect.