Indeed BobRyan, a united Europe might well establish a Sunday "blue" law. Below is an excerpt from my second book:
The Catholic Church had been divested of much of its power in the last few decades. The problems of abortion, birth control, celibacy, divorce, homosexuality, women priests, political activism of priests, and distribution of ecclesiastical power had plagued the Church. The upper echelons of the Vatican worried about the Church’s future. Meanwhile, Europe had had limited success on the political front; the power of the EEC was not going as planned. The surrender of national sovereignty had been minimal, thus limiting the EEC. Seeing this going on, the Catholic Church got involved in the political unification effort in Europe. As in the past, Europeans saw religion and politics were interdependent. They envisioned a reconstruction of the old Holy Roman Empire with the influence of the Catholic Church. Since the end of World War II, the popes had called for settling political differences through faith, with their Church at the center. The most powerful statement came from Pope Paul VI on October 18, 1975. He was addressing the Third Symposium of Bishops of Europe in Rome. Present were more than 100 bishops, cardinals, and prelates from 24 different European countries. He stated. “Can it not be said that it is faith, the Christian faith, the Catholic faith that made Europe…?” And he continued. “And it is there that our mission as bishops in Europe can render the service that is confided to us, promoters of the faith, to reawaken Europe’s Christian soul, where unity is rooted.”
Pope Paul VI also called the Catholic faith “the secret to Europe’s identity.” Pope John Paul II had often stated he had a literal calling from God for unifying Europe.
Political leaders had also echoed the same sentiment: Dr. Otto van Habsburg, the eldest son of the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor, has stated he saw a relation of the Holy Roman Empire and his view of the coming “United States of Europe.” Dr. Habsburg saw a strong religious role for any future united Europe. He advocated that the Roman Catholic Church should be central to that theme. He stated. “The cross doesn’t need Europe, but Europe needs the cross.” Other political figures had expressed the same sentiment. It seemed inevitable that any united Europe would include some participation of the Roman Catholic Church. The coming Renovatio imperii Romanorum, restoration of the Roman Empire, would astound the world!
Europe, along with the Church of Rome, will be powers to reckon with. This will be the seventh head spoken of by Daniel, the prophet. [end excerpt]
