‘Vatican Tries to Exclude Turkey for EU’s Christian Identity’

While defending his belief that the EU should continue to discuss its Christian heritage, the Cardinal reminded readers that Turkey has historically, always represented a different continent; that the Ottomans were at the gates of Vienna and waged war in the Balkans.

Ratzinger’s comments drew a reaction from the Catholic congregation living in Turkey. In a statement he made in Rome, Turkey Catholic Bishops Council Spokesman George Marovitch said: "I do not approve of Cardinal Ratzinger’s evaluations of Turkey. What Ratzinger did was express his opinions about a political issue. The opinions of Ratzinger are not binding for Catholics."

Marovitch added that Pope Jean 23rd, actually Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who died in 1963, had a positive opinion of Turks. (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli took the name of the Jean 23rd and was given the title of "holiness," a sub-position of sainthood in Catholicism.)

An editorial in The New York Times, an American newspaper, said that the EU, which will decide whether to start Turkey’s full membership discussions this December, should consider the political benefits of Ankara’s membership, rather than the Cardinal’s opinions.

The article reveals that this is not the first time Ratzinger exhibited such a provocative attitude on social matters. Recent gaffes on other subjects, The Times reported, included comments about women.

By raising religious differences above political processes, the Cardinal was accused of raising his own opinions above global values, which are not in the Jewish-Christian monopoly.

The Times’ editorial said that the debate surrounding Turkey’s possible accession would be better served if the Cardinal "emphasiz[ed] the positive potential in combining the best Christian tradition of charity and the best Muslim tradition of social justice."

Additionally, the article recognized the dismissal of the Cardinal’s comments by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who, the article said, saw his political future bound with Turkey’s membership to the EU.

German-born Ratzinger’s interview in Le Figaro said that Turkey should seek its future among Islamic organizations, not in the Christian rooted EU. Ratzinger emphasized that it would be a mistake to equate the two continents [Europe and Asia] because it would sacrifice their richness and culture for the sake of economic benefits.