Religious freedom threatened, by aggressive secularism in the West, says Bagnasco

(January 25, 2011) Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, CEI, in a discourse on Monday, called on international institutions to guarantee freedom of religion for all faiths. In a keynote address to the Italian Bishops permanent council meeting in Ancona, Italy, he spoke about the threats to religious freedom and to the lives of Christians in various parts of the world, especially in the Middle East, and mentioned the attacks in Baghdad and Alexandria. He also focused on the West, slamming devious threats to real religious freedom in democratic nations, starting in Europe. Cardinal Bagnasco mentioned the controversy of the crucifix in schools or public places, saying that “religious freedom is essential and if it is compromised, society as a whole, may actually have to pay the consequences.”
For the CEI president, “A subtle evil afflicts Europe, causing a slow, unseen marginalisation of Christianity. Sometimes, this involves clear cases of discrimination, but also a silent stifling of fundamental freedoms. Speaking about the problem of the fear of Christianity, the prelate said he hoped that the “issue of basic religious minority rights in many countries would be urgently addressed.” He added that it is necessary to raise the issue of religious freedom in international institutions, like the European Union and the United Nations, so that individual states may uphold minimum standards of freedom for all faiths.”

VIS: Pope condolence message for death of Tullia Zevi
Pope Benedict XVI, through Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a condolence message to Renzo Gattegna, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, for the death of Tullia Zevi, author, journalist and former president of the Union, who died on Saturday at the age of 91.
The condolence message said "Having learned the news of the death of Tullia Zevi, the Supreme Pontiff spiritually participates in the mourning of her relatives and of the Jewish communities in Italy. He gives assurances of his prayers and recalls her exalted moral profile and authoritative contribution to the development of values of democracy, peace and freedom in Italian society, and to sincere and profound dialogue between Jews and Christians".