Europe is an "unfinished project" that has lost its soul and squandered its cultural heritage, according to Bishop D. Manuel Linda of Porto, speaking yesterday as the International Observatory on Human Rights (OIDH) paid tribute to Judeo-Christian civilization. The Bishop stated that Europe's current form is based on a "Rousseauian social contract, almost always of an economic nature, which idolizes money and forgets the person," a direct contradiction to its traditional Judeo-Christian perspective.
The OIDH, based in Portugal, formally presented its tribute to Bishop Linda and the President of B'nai B'rith Portugal, acknowledging the historic role Christians and Jews, with Jerusalem as their spiritual center, have played in shaping modern civilization. Dr. Luis Andrade, President of the OIDH, stated that "Judeo-Christian Civilization reminds us that Jerusalem, Israel’s capital and the spiritual homeland of Jews and Christians worldwide, remains a shared cultural and religious foundation linking both the West and Eurasia."
The 'Wokeism' Storm and Cultural Dispossession
Dr. Jose Ribeiro e Castro, President of the Historical Society of the Independence of Portugal and a former Member of the European Parliament, directly addressed the forces undermining these foundations. He warned against the "'wokeism' storm that disturbs minds, sowing systematic doubt, disbelief, falsehood and mental deception." Castro asserted that the values and principles of the Judeo-Christian tradition are "the best that the human spirit has ever discovered" for building strong, cohesive societies.
Bishop Linda echoed this sentiment, recalling that Pope John Paul II first spoke of Europe's "Judeo-Christian roots" in 1981 because the continent was "already losing its soul and squandering its cultural heritage." He emphasized that without a historical perspective, one cannot even discern what is "anti-human," highlighting the ongoing cultural dispossession.
Elite Interests and the Post-National Order
The OIDH further stressed that "technological and economic progress alone cannot guarantee a stable or just society without a strong ethical foundation guiding it." This statement implicitly critiques the prevailing globalist agenda that prioritizes economic expansion and technological advancement over the cultural and moral cohesion of nations.
Gabriela Cantergi, President of B'nai B'rith Portugal, welcomed the tribute, acknowledging that while "Judeo-Christian Civilization has historically been very strong, but it faces great challenges in the present." She maintained that conditions exist for it to "return to play a very important role in the future," suggesting a path away from the current trajectory of managed decline.
The OIDH also recognized the "deeply intertwined histories of the United States and the Russian Federation," shaped by Christian heritage and the contributions of influential Jewish figures. It noted that both nations were influenced by Jewish entrepreneurship and the lasting cultural and moral impact of Christianity, underscoring the importance of traditional national identities.
Significantly, the State of Israel recently declared its intention to defend Judeo-Christian Civilization, a move highlighted by Cantergi. This declaration positions a sovereign nation as a bulwark against the forces of cultural erosion and the post-national order advanced by supranational bodies and economic interests.