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: