Editing Christian Union (Netherlands) (section)

==Ideology==
The CU describes itself as a Christian social party. The party has its roots in orthodox Protestant (i.e. mostly [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]]) parties, often referred to as the "small right". It combines a conservative point of view on ethical and foreign policy issues, with more [[centre-left]] ideas on economic, asylum, social and environmental issues. Its conservative reformed ideals are reflected in its program of principles. It believes that the state is the [[swordmaiden]] of [[God]]. It bases its politics directly on the [[Bible]]. However, it sees separate duties for the state and the church in public life: the church should spread the Word of God, while the state should merely uphold public morality. The state should respect the religion of its citizens. Other Christian principles, like [[neighbourly love]] and [[stewardship]] for the Earth, however have given the CU's political program a centre-left orientation.

Some of CU's [[socially conservative]] policies include:<ref name="CUS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.christenunie.nl/standpunten|title=Standpunten|website=ChristenUnie.nl}}</ref>
* Facilitation by government of a one-earner model, allowing one parent, usually the wife, to stay at home and take care of the children.
* Society should cherish its collective moments of rest, and preferably leave [[Sabbath in Christianity|Sunday]] a day of rest.
* [[Abortion]] and [[euthanasia]]-practices should be reduced and eventually replaced by alternatives, such as care of women with unwanted pregnancies and [[palliative care]].
* The Dutch policy of [[Drug policy of the Netherlands|toleration of soft drugs]] should be abandoned.
* Combatting [[child pornography]] and [[prostitution in the Netherlands|prostitution]].
* Defending the [[freedom of education]] (that is, to found religious schools), because of [[sphere sovereignty]].
* The Netherlands should remain an independent political entity within the [[European Union]].
* Limiting the use of [[genetic manipulation]].

More centre-left policies include:
* Public services of [[education]], [[health care]] and social security should remain state run, but on a smaller scale than is presently the case.
* Increased budgets for [[development cooperation]] in order to address the [[third world|poverty in the global south]].
* A more open policy towards [[asylum seeker]]s, especially those who are persecuted for religious reasons.
* A [[Green politics|green]] [[environmental policy]]. Based on its electoral promises on investment in [[green energy]], the Dutch branch of [[Greenpeace]] termed CU the greenest political party in 2006.<ref name="lansingerland.christenunie.nl">{{in lang|nl}} [http://lansingerland.christenunie.nl/k/n10584/news/view/138885/113707/ChristenUnie-op-1-in-energiebarometer-Greenpeace.html ChristenUnie op 1 in energiebarometer Greenpeace] ''Christian Union''</ref>

=== Social issues ===
The CU describes itself as "Christelijk-sociaal" ''(Social Christian)'' and explicitly distance themselves from the labels [[Christian socialism]] or [[Christian right]].<ref name="Andeweg, R p.49">[[Rudy Andeweg|Andeweg, R.]] and G. Irwin ''Politics and Governance in the Netherlands'', Basingstoke (Palgrave) p.49</ref><ref name="PEE"/> "Social Christian" describes a [[Christian democracy]] ideology that is more right-wing than Christian socialism and more left-wing than the Christian right and social conservatism. Described as [[Centrism|centrist]] and [[Calvinism|Orthodox Protestant]], it has an emphasis on the community, social solidarity, support for a welfare state, and support for some regulation of market forces but is more conservative on some social issues opposition to [[euthanasia]], [[Embryonic stem cell|embryonic stem cell research]], [[same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|same-sex marriage]], [[abortion]], and some elements of [[Euroscepticism|the EU]]. The party is left of centre on issues such as [[social policy]], [[Right of asylum|asylum policy]], [[development aid]], green [[environmental policy]] and the [[economy]].<ref name="ChristenUnie"/><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4500/Politiek/article/detail/1869670/2011/04/04/CU-is-niet-meer-christelijk-sociaal.dhtml CU is niet meer 'christelijk-sociaal'] ''[[Trouw]]''</ref>

The party supports Dutch membership of the [[European Union]] to ensure peace and prosperity, and to counter the influence of Russia and China, while simultaneously being critical of several EU policies which it claims are undemocratic and "mainly benefits large companies and the upper middle classes." The CU instead calls for more transparency within the EU, for domestic decision making of EU member states to be respected and wants reforms made to the [[Eurozone]]. The CU is also against the [[accession of Turkey to the European Union]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christenunie.nl/standpunt/europa|title = Europa - ChristenUnie.nl}}</ref>