Oppose religious persecution
in all forms (CatholicAnchor.org )
There are two basic forms of religious
persecution.
( 1 ) The first is more subtle and moves by
almost imperceptible degrees in an effort to restrict and prohibit people of
faith from running charitable outreaches and schools or conducting their
business in a manner that reflects and respects their deeply held religious
beliefs.
( 2 ) On the other far end of the spectrum is a
form of religious persecution that would exterminate and destroy expressions of
religious faith and even the adherents.
We see this gross violation of human
freedom now playing out in Iraq and in Northern Africa, but it is also seen in
Communist China and other regions, both now and
in the past, where religious freedom has been prohibited.
Pope Francis just recently addressed the
need to defend a robust and active religious freedom in society, both :
- freedom to practice one’s faith but also
- [ freedom ] to act on one’s religious conscience in
providing services and charities that are inspired by and reflect
one’s faith.
The following text is excerpted from a Zenit News Agency translation of the pope’s Sept. 21 address during a
meeting with interreligious leaders in Albania
The message is apt for both the religious freedom
struggles in a modern Western society like the United
States and for the brutal persecution being unleashed in
the Middle East .
Here are some excerpts from
the pope’s talk:
“When,
in the name of an ideology, there is an attempt to remove God from society, it
ends up adoring idols, and very soon men and women lose their way, their
dignity is trampled and their rights violated.
You know well how much pain comes from the
denial of freedom of conscience and of religious freedom, and how from such a
wound comes a humanity that is impoverished because it lacks hope and ideals to
guide it…
In reality, as John Paul II stated during
his historic visit to Albania
Only faith reminds us that, if we have one
Creator, we are therefore all brothers and sisters.
Religious freedom is a safeguard against all
forms of totalitarianism and contributes decisively to human fraternity.”
He immediately then added, “True religious
freedom shuns the temptation to intolerance and sectarianism, and promotes
attitudes of respect and constructive dialogue.”
We cannot deny that intolerance towards
those with different religious convictions is a particularly insidious enemy,
one which today is being witnessed in various areas around the world.
As believers we must be particularly
vigilant so that, in living out with conviction our religious and ethical code,
we may always express the mystery we intend to honor.
This means that all those forms which
present a distorted use of religion, must be firmly refuted as false since they
are unworthy of God or humanity.
Authentic religion is a source of peace and not
of violence!
No one must use the name of God to commit
violence!
To kill in the name of God is a grave
sacrilege.
To discriminate in the name of God is inhuman.
Seen in this light, religious freedom is
not a right which can be guaranteed solely by existing legislation, although
laws are necessary.
Rather
religious freedom is a shared space, an atmosphere of respect and cooperation
that must be built with everyone’s participation, even those who have no
religious convictions.
Allow me to outline two attitudes which can
be especially helpful in the advancement of this fundamental freedom.
( 1 ) The first attitude is that of regarding
every man and woman, even those of different religious traditions, not as
rivals, less still enemies, but rather as brothers and sisters.
When
a person is secure of his or her own beliefs, there is no need to impose or put
pressure on others: there is a conviction that truth has its own power of
attraction. Deep down, we are all pilgrims
on this earth, and on this pilgrim journey, as we yearn for truth and eternity,
we do not live autonomous and self-sufficient individual lives; the same applies to religious, cultural and national
communities. We
need each other, and are entrusted to each other’s care.
Each religious tradition, from within, must
be able to take account of others.
( 2 ) The second attitude which fosters the
promotion of religious freedom is the work done in service of the common good.
Whenever adherence to a specific religious
tradition gives birth to service that shows conviction, generosity and concern for the whole of society without making distinctions, then there too exists an authentic and mature living out
of religious freedom.
This presents itself not only as a space in
which to legitimately defend one’s autonomy, but also as a potential that
enriches the human family as it advances.
The more men and women are at the service
of others, the greater their freedom!
Let us look around us: there are so many poor
and needy people, so many societies that try to find a more inclusive way of
social justice and path of economic development!
How great is the need for the human heart to
be firmly fixed on the deepest meaning of experiences in life and rooted in a
rediscovery of hope!
Men and women, inspired in these areas by the
values of their respective religious traditions, can offer an important, and
even unique, contribution.
This is truly a fertile land offering much
fruit, also in the field of interreligious dialogue…
That which brings us together is the path
of life.
It is the good will to do good for the brothers
and sisters.
And as brothers, we go forward together.
And each one of us offers the witness of their
own identity to the other, and dialogues with the other.
Then, when dialogue moves a bit forward on
theological matters, that is beautiful but that which is most important is walking together without betraying
one’s own identity, without masking it, without hypocrisy.”
http://www.catholicanchor.org/editorial/oppose-religious-persecution-forms/
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