2011-10-27 11:58:43

U.S. sends Religious Freedom Ambassador to Assisi


The United States has sent its Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to the Day for Peace in Assisi. Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook is an ordained Baptist minister whose new role makes her a principle advisor on religious liberty to the U.S. President and Secretary of State.

“We have found where nations have religious freedom, there’s more stability,” Ambassador Johnson Cook told Vatican Radio. “So we want to make sure peace and freedom are values that we want to (promote in partnership) with the Vatican.”

“Religion is at the center of everything we do, at the center of human life. More than 85% of the world believes in a being larger than him or herself and so what’s exciting about the strategic dialogue and about the day of Assisi is that we’re not ignoring religion…”

“When you’re talking about peace, you are looking at places that we’re on common ground…As an ambassador, I’m a bridge builder. I’m looking for common ground – for places where there are pragmatic openings. And so there are nations that may not be excelling in religious freedom but it allows me an opening to sit down and say where can we begin to promote (religious freedom).”

“We’re very concerned about religious minorities all over the world. Where can we begin to make some small steps that will then become bigger steps so that every human being has the right to believe or not believe what their choice is.”

“So, Assisi (is) reaffirming that…people are coming from all over saying ‘yes’ we look different, we have different cultures, we speak differently, but there is one language of humanity and that’s the language of peace and freedom and dignity, and that’s what we share.”

In this interview with Tracey McClure one day before the event in Assisi, Ambassador Johnson Cook reflects on her role as observer at the Day for Peace, on the religious freedom records of some U.S. trading and strategic partners, and on the Arab Spring. She begins by explaining that the U.S. State Department launched a new working group on religion and foreign policy on October 18th in which civil society will be able to participate...
Listen to the interview: RealAudioMP3








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