Appeal to Christian
Men of Europe

Brothers in Christ,

Europe today faces one of the most serious questions in its history.

Will it remain faithful to the spiritual sources from which its culture, law, art, morality and understanding of human dignity grew?

Or will it allow the Christian faith to be pushed to the margins of public, family, social and political life?

Secularisation is not merely a private choice of individuals. It is increasingly becoming a systemic tendency to drive Christianity out of the public sphere. It affects schools, culture, law, public debate, media and political life.

Therefore, it is not enough to complain.

It is not enough to remain silent.

It is not enough to recall the former greatness of Christian Europe.

We must form men who will be capable of bearing responsibility. We must build Christian communities capable of action. We must raise spiritual, social, intellectual and political elites who will defend Christian values in public life.

The Order of the Knights of the Holy Cross is founded for precisely this purpose.

It is not a movement of fanaticism. It is not an organisation of violence. It is not a political party.

It is a Christian formative, ecumenical, social and educational order that seeks to prepare men for responsible service to God, the Church, the family, the nation and Europe.

The Order seeks to form men of faith, honour and responsibility — men who understand that Christianity cannot be confined solely to the private sphere, who know that faith needs witness also in culture, law, education, media and politics, who do not wish to be passive observers of the world's changes but desire to participate in its renewal.

We call upon Christian men.

We call upon those who have been baptised. We call upon those who have not renounced Christ. We call upon those who feel responsibility for the future of the Christian faith in Europe.

We do not ask about social background. We do not ask about wealth. We do not ask about position.

We ask about faith, readiness for formation, honesty of heart and the will to serve.

The Order of the Knights of the Holy Cross is open to Christians of various Churches who profess faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We do not take away anyone's ecclesial tradition. We do not demand the abandonment of one's own Church. On the contrary — we want every member of the Order to be faithful to his own Church and at the same time capable of brotherly cooperation with other Christians.

Our common path is Christ.
Our sign is the Cross.

The Order sets itself tasks that require courage and responsibility:

• To promote the Christian faith.
• To counteract secularisation.
• To protect the Christian heritage of Europe.
• To support the religious freedom of Christians.
• To raise leaders capable of social and public service.
• To create an environment from which will emerge men prepared for responsibility in the political, legal, educational and cultural spheres.

We are not seeking power for its own sake — we seek service. We are not seeking domination — we seek the presence of the Christian conscience where decisions are made concerning the future of the human person, the family, the nation and Europe.

We do not seek fanaticism — we seek a wise, courageous and consistent defence of values without which Europe will lose its own soul.

A Knight of the Holy Cross is to be a man of prayer, discipline, knowledge and action. He must be able to listen. He must be able to serve. He must be able to defend truth. He must be able to take responsibility. He must live so that his faith is visible not only in words but also in his conduct.

Europe needs Christians who are not ashamed of the Gospel. The Churches need faithful, responsible people capable of cooperation. Societies need elites that will not cut themselves off from God, truth and morality. Future generations need witnesses.

That is why the Order of the Knights of the Holy Cross was founded.