European Union: Myths on the flag

Last modified: 2005-07-23 by ivan sache
Keywords: european union | myth |
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• The myth of the "Marian seal" on the European Union flag
  • Debunking the myth
  • An illustration of the myth
  • Another illustration of the myth
• Myths on the number of stars on the European Union flag
• Myths on the change of the European flag

See also:

• European Union

The myth of the "Marian seal" on the European Union flag

Debunking the myth

While Count Coudenhove-Kalergi in a personal statement maintained that three leading Catholics within the Council had subconciously chosen the twelve stars on the model of Apocalypse 12:1, Paul M.G. Lévy, Press Officer of the Council from 1949 to 1966, explained in 1989 that there was no religious intention whatsoever associated with the choice of the circle of twelve stars.

This is important because from time to time all kinds of myths (mainly by Catholic activists, some of them outspoken anti-Semitic) are being launched to "prove" that the European emblem was designed to glorify the Virgin Mary who, erroneously again, is traditionally being associated with Apocalypse 12:1.

Peter Diem, 11 June 2002

I have also seen the argument that the flag and emblem of the European Union is in fact a Catholic symbol. This argument has been put forward by Lutheran north Europeans as a contribution to the line of thought that the European Union is a Catholic (that is elitist, non-democratic etc.) project the north Europeans (that is democratic and Lutheran) ought to stay out of.

Some of the more extreme argue that the European Union is a fulfillment of the prophecies in The Book of Revelation - the resurrection of the Roman Empire etc. ("evidence": the European Union was founded with the treaty of Rome). C