The outspoken leader of the Greek Orthodox Church blasted the European Union for omitting mention of God or Europe's Christian heritage in its draft constitution.
``The peoples of Europe, in their majority, believe in God ... but those who govern are expelling Christianity from the constitution of the European Union,'' Archbishop Christodoulos said Monday in a sermon.
``This is a distortion of history ... No one has the right to erase Christianity,'' he said. ``Europe will fail and be divided if they continue this way.''
Christodoulos' remarks follow criticism and appeals from the Vatican to include a reference of Europe's predominant religion in the constitution.
The constitution will change E.U.-agreed operating rules before the union expands next year from 15 to 25 countries. The draft was being presented to this week's summit of European leaders in northern Greece.