In 2011, dozens of groups in Europe joined together to form the European Sunday Alliance (ESA). This group is now calling for members of the European Parliament to adopt its manifesto in the June 2024 elections.
Why Sunday? “Because by tradition and custom, most European countries establish the weekly day of rest on Sunday.”
Their goals of the European Sunday Alliance are,
Less work hours in a week
Greater social cohesion, interaction with family
Establish a common weekly rest day
Combat loneliness
Help the environment
Reduce mental and emotional issues, fight depression etc . . .
Get members of the European Parliament to support this weekly common day of rest for all citizens at the upcoming EU elections in June 2024.
The European Sunday Alliance is a network of more than 100 national Sunday Alliances, trade unions, employers’ organisations, civil society organisations, environmental groups, churches and religious communities. Some of the groups pushing this initiative are,
The European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI)
Federation of Catholic Family Association in Europe
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE)
Environmentalist groups, tenuous at first but growing in support. See the Green Sabbath initiative and Laudato si’
Observations
The prevailing reasons for this work free Sunday are not religious, but rather social, mental, environmental and reduced work hours.
There is no mention of the Sabbath day or the Bible in this European initiative.
Trade Unions are huge supporters of this work free Sunday. Back in 2010 or 2011, Pope Benedict spoke to the European trade unions in Denmark, and offered his support for a work free Sunday. It was also suggested that a day off per week would allow the earth to ‘heal’, a theme echoed in Pope Francis’ Laudato si Encyclical.
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