The following continues to show a sample of some of the things happening in the world which show that the Sunday movement is working to bring in laws to establish Sunday.
Protection of the work-free Sunday:
On November 20, 2008 the Catholic Communication Network of England and Wales issued a press release making a connection between the financial crisis and Sunday rest. “The financial crisis has exposed a deeper spiritual crisis and a misguided set of values. The sense and value of human work has been pushed to the background in the general struggle for profit, the COMECE Bishops stated with regret…”
" the Bishops called for respect for Sunday rest as one of the foundations of the European social model and as a way of balancing work and family life."
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The issue was opposed by a few members and has not yet been passed.
“The failure to put this amendment to the vote incensed Mazurkiewicz. [The secretary general of COMECE]
He said "'Sunday as the privileged weekly rest day will not be inserted into the future Working Time Directive, although the reconciliation of work and family life is the explicit aim of this Directive.
He continued: "[T]his is incoherent and a missed opportunity when we consider how much European citizens expect today in a Social Europe which protects workers and their families. "
Three MEPs had tabled two amendments aimed at introducing Sunday as the weekly rest day 'in principle'. These amendments were signed by more than 40 MEPs from all political parties. Church representations, alliances for the protection of Sunday and Trade Unions from several Member States also supported the initiative.
Fr Mazurkiewicz said: "It is regrettable that for procedural reasons, MEPs could not express themselves on these amendments and so were deprived of the possibility of debating such a crucial issue for European citizens.
"Considering the mobilisation achieved on the Sunday issue for the vote on the Working Time Directive, it is important for Churches, Trade Unions and civil society organisations to continue to stay mobilised and to speak out with one voice on this fundamental social issue."
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However, that was not the end of the matter: --
The Secretariat of COMECE, the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) and the Church of England welcome the initiative of several Members of the European Parliament, to ask the House to decide on a Written Declaration “on the protection of a work-free Sunday as an essential pillar of the European Social Model and as part of the European cultural heritage”. Such a declaration would constitute an important commitment to a “Social Europe”. It is now important to find the majority necessary for this cross-party resolution, which has been launched by five parliamentarians – from the political groups of EPP, PSE, ALDE and UEN – on 2 February 2009.
In order to be adopted, it is now necessary for the Written Declaration to be signed by a majority (394) of MEPs before 7 May 2009.
The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) has given its support to a proposal introduced into the European Parliament “on the protection of a work-free Sunday as an essential pillar of the European Social Model and as part of the European cultural heritage." The measure would call upon all member-states of the European Union to protect the weekly day of rest. "The economic and financial crises have made us more aware of the fact that not all aspects of life can be subject to market forces," COMECE noted in its statement of support - in which the Catholic bishops were joined by the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) and the Church of England.
February 2009
Text of the Written Declaration
Link
Pursuant to Rule 116 of the Rules of Procedure
on the protection of a work-free Sunday as an essential pillar of the European
Social Model and a part of the European cultural heritage.
0009/2009
Written declaration on the protection of a work-free Sunday as an essential pillar of the
European Social Model and a part of the European cultural heritage
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Article 137 of the TEU,
– having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas a work-free Sunday is an essential pillar of the European Social Model and a part
of the European cultural heritage,
B. whereas a EUROFOUND survey shows that the likelihood of sickness and absenteeism in
establishments that work on Saturdays and Sundays is 1.3 times greater compared with
establishments that do not require staff to work at the weekend,
C. whereas, according to EU law, Sunday is the weekly rest day for children and adolescents,
D. whereas the European institutions, bodies and agencies have not worked on Sundays
since their creation and do not intend to do so in the future, despite the diversity of
religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of EU officials and decision-makers,
1. Calls on the Member States and the EU institutions to protect Sunday, as a weekly rest
day, in forthcoming national and EU working-time legislation in order to enhance the
protection of workers' health and the reconciliation of work and family life;
2. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the
signatories, to the Council, the Commission and the parliamentary committees for social
affairs of the national parliaments.
According to mygospelworkers.org:
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and
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"A part of the European cultural heritage of longstanding tradition and high value, the work-free Sunday is a decisive factor in balancing work and family life. It is of fundamental importance for family relations, but also for social and cultural life to safeguard one of the few remaining times which can be shared by children and their parents. According to EU law, Sunday is the weekly rest day for children and adolescents (1). That is why respect for Sunday rest has the potential to be a pillar of the European social model.
In recent years, the protection of Sunday has been eroded in many Member States, with the purpose of increasing production and consumption. Workers have experienced fragmentation of their private lives, while small and medium-sized enterprises, which cannot afford uninterrupted opening hours have lost ground in the market place. Accordingly this declaration now introduced into parliament calls on the Member States and on the EU institutions to “protect Sunday, as a weekly rest day, in forthcoming national and EU working-time legislation in order to enhance the protection of workers' health and the reconciliation of work and family life”.
In order to be adopted, it is now necessary for the Written Declaration to be signed by a majority (394) of MEPs before 7 May 2009.
COMMENTS:
“Considering the mobilization achieved on the Sunday issue for a vote on the Working Time Directive, it is important for Churches, Trade Unions and civil society organizations to continue to stay mobilized and to speak out with one voice in the Member States, especially when fundamental social rights are at stake,” said COMECE
Considering that Rome is trying to establish herself at the center of European politics and culture, and resurrect the Holy Roman Empire with the Holy See at the head, this is significant. Rome is having difficulty getting legal recognition for Christianity as the cultural foundation of Europe in the legal documents of the European Union. But there is more than one way to muscle her way into the center of European politics. If Rome can eventually get recognition of Sunday as a day of rest, she will have accomplished the same thing since she is the one that is pushing it so hard, or at least she will have taken a huge step in that direction. That is why Rome is advocating continual mobilization.
Notice that they are calling for Sunday as the “privileged” weekly rest day. That would place Christianity, particularly Roman Catholic Christianity as the privileged religion in Europe. Again Rome is attempting to establish its ancient and traditional collaboration with the civil states to enforce her dogma on all of society. In this case she is working through the centralized European parliament to gain her objective, although she is no doubt working with the individual states as well. Centralization of nations always benefits Rome and makes it easy for her to press her agenda on larger numbers of people through fewer leaders. Considering that the leaders of European Union want to resurrect the Holy Roman Empire, it is no wonder that Rome is attempting to work with them to bring about Sunday rest.
The Roman Catholic Church is persistent. A new law in Croatia, which goes into effect January 1, 2009, requiring most businesses and shops to be closed on Sunday, is a testimony to the power of Rome there. Now the Holy See is seeking to enshrine the protection of Sunday rest into the laws of the whole European Union.
Presently the Sunday rest movement in Europe involves Trade Unions and other secular civil organizations as well as the churches. It is interesting to note that Rome is working with any willing organization to achieve her goals. They are working in the name of secular purposes, but their real purpose is to impose religious laws. Great Controversy, page 581 says: Rome “is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men.”
POPE'S SPEECH IN AUSTRIA
Benedict XVI while in Austria in September of 2007 said
“Without the Lord’s day, we cannot live.” He was speaking about Mass and the need for worship on Sunday.
"Without the Lord and without the day that belongs to him, life does not flourish."..."the first day of the week is the day of the dawning of creation, the day on which God said: “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3). Therefore Sunday is also the Church’s weekly feast of creation – the feast of thanksgiving and joy over God’s creation." " for the early Church, the first day increasingly assimilated the traditional meaning of the seventh day, the Sabbath. We participate in God’s rest, which embraces all of humanity. Thus we sense on this day something of the freedom and equality of all God’s creatures.
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Yet, nowhere does the Bible make such claims for Sunday. The Bible is clear as to which day is "The Sabbath of the Lord" and the memorial of Creation, and it's NOT Sunday. Now the bishops are again pushing for Sunday worship in Europe. Make no mistake about it, the European Union will eventually acknowledge the authority of Rome, and Rome is pressing for them to do it. The Working Time Directive when passed will establish the "tradition of men" over and above the commandments of God.
European Sunday Alliance launched in Brussels on 20 June 2011
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"On 20 June, some 65 civil society organisations, trade unions and Churches launched the European Sunday Alliance at an event held in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. In their Founding Statement “Together for decent working hours” the signatories commit to safeguard and promote work-free Sundays and decent working hours throughout Europe. The launch was part of an expert conference on the impact of Sunday work on the health, safety and social integration of workers."
..."The Alliance urges the EU and Member States to take all legislative and political measures to promote these aims..."
We believe the individual should be permitted to choose which days to rest on - not the state in cooperation with churches. We view this movement as a serious threat to religious freedom.
Notice -- it's always Sunday, upon which work is somehow detrimental health and family. Why?
Because Sunday is the MARK --
"The change from Sabbath to Sunday is the church's mark of authority in ecclesiastical matters of faith and worship." - H.F. Thomas, Chancellor to Cardinal Gibbons.
There are dozens of quotes in Catholic literature where she claims the change shows her power over God's word.
God says "Remember the seventh day to keep it holy, on it you shall do NO work, for in six days God created...and rested the seventh." Ex. 20:8-11--
The Roman Church says, No, you can do all manner of work on the Seventh day, but keep the first day work free and make it your special worship day.
And practically all of Christiandom says, "we will follow the church, not the Creator. We have tradition to follow."
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