Cardinal Casper Opens War Against Turkey's EU Membership

I can't beleive it! Turkish experts don't agree? -

"Cardinal Walter Casper, the head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has said that Turkey should not be allowed into the EU until "it stops preventing religious freedom". However Turkish experts do not share Cardinal's accusations."

"Cardinal Casper said at the Vatican "We do not think that Turkey is ready to unite with Europe. If a truly secular government were in place, it would be able to guarantee religious freedom. Currently, there are hostile actions occuring in Turkey aimed at religious minorities."

"I do not see the recent attacks against Christians in Turkey as being individual acts. The nationalism displayed against foreigners there has reached dangerous levels. In this sense, it is clear that Turkey has not reached the level of maturity to allow it to share in European culture, and we think that, rather than EU membership, some sort of special status should be extended to this country."

"However the Turkish Government and experts do not share the Cardinal's accusations. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan for instance argues that the Christians in Turkey has more freedom thab the practicing Muslims have:

"Every year more than 20 million Christians visit Turkey and none of them complain about religious preventions. Every year about 20.000 Christian foreigners permenantl settle in Turkish coast cities. They built churches, schools etc. And Turkey has other minorities. I think the Christian minorities have more freedom in Turkey than the Turks in Western Europe".

- But what about Turkish Christian Minorities? -
JTW News - Cardinal Casper Opens War Against Turkey's EU Membership