The Social Doctrine of the Church and European Integration

This article deals with character and trends in European integration from the perspectives of Christian social thought, Christian-oriented policy, and from the positions of the Social Doctrine of the Church. It deals with the overall character of the integration process, its perspectives, consequences and furthermore with its particular aspects in the context of the principals of the Social Doctrine of the Church - the personal principle, the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. The article comes to the conclusion that the process of European integration, in the manner it is carried out in the project of the European Union, is partly in fundamental contradiction with the traditionally understood Christian-oriented policy and also with the principles and spirit of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Keywords: European Union; European Integration; Social Doctrine of the Church; Social Encyclicals; Catholic Social Thought; Christianity and Politics; Christian Democracy