Holy See: Rising restrictions on religion affect more than 2 billion people.
The Holy See Delegation has addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva
on the subject of religious freedom. Archbishop Silvano M.Tomasi said in many countries
“the gap is growing between widely accepted stated principles, and their daily application
on the ground.” He pointed out “rising restrictions on religion affect more than
2.2 billion people.”
Archbishop Tomasi also told the Council “religions are
not a threat, but a resource. They contribute to the development of civilizations,
and this is good for everyone.”
Listen to the full interview by Sergio
Centofanti with Archbishop Tomasi:
Below
is the full text of his remarks to the Human Rights Council:
Statement
by His Excellency Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi Permanent Observer of the
Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva at
the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council – High Level
Segment
March 1, 2012
Madam President,
The implementation
of human rights is a difficult challenge today, particularly with regard to the fundamental
and inalienable right of every person to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion
or belief.” Among other elements, the evolving political situation, wrong perceptions
of the role of religion, expediency, and subtle ambiguities in the understanding of
secularism lead to intolerance and even outright persecution of people because of
their faith or religion. The freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief in teaching,
practice, worship and observance, which is guaranteed by human rights law and international
instruments, is disregarded in several places in the world. Such stifling policies
and practices place at risk the contribution of many citizens to social life and
progress in their respective countries. The Holy See appreciates the regular attention
of the Human Rights Council to this major issue as well as the related efforts and
decisions taken by Special Procedures.
In many countries, however, the gap
is growing between widely accepted stated principles, and their daily application
on the ground. Serious research provides reliable data on current and repetitive patterns
of gross violations of the right to freedom of religion. Christians are not the only
victims, but terrorist attacks on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and Asia increased
309% between 2003 and 2010. Approximately 70% of the world’s population lives in countries
with high restrictions on religious beliefs and practices, and religious minorities
pay the highest price. In general, rising restrictions on religion affect more than
2.2 billion people. The affected people either have lost the protection of their societies
or have experienced some government-imposed and unjust restrictions, or have become
victims of violence resulting from an impulsive bigotry. The evidence shows that additional
efforts are required from the international community in order to assure the protection
of people in their exercise of freedom of religion and religious practice. Such actions
are urgently required since in several countries the situation is worsening and since
the factual reporting of such violations is underplayed, despite the fact, it should
be highlighted in the pertinent Reports.
The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights points to respect for the human dignity of all people as the foundation on
which the protection of human rights is built. In the present circumstances, it is
worth recalling that States should ensure that all their citizens have the right to
enjoy freedom of religion individually, within the family, and as a community, and
to participate in the public square. Religious freedom, in fact, is not a derived
right, or one granted, but a fundamental and inalienable right of the human person.
A religious belief should not be perceived or considered as harmful or offensive simply
because it is different from that of the majority. The task of the Government is not
to define religion or recognize its value, but to confer upon faith communities a
juridical personality so that they can function peacefully within a legal framework.
Respect for the religious freedom of everyone may be at stake in places where the
concept of “State religion” is recognized, especially when the latter becomes the
source of unjust treatment of others, whether they believe in other faiths or have
none.
Above the institutional considerations, the critical problem facing
the promotion and protection human rights in the area of religious freedom is the
intolerance that leads to violence and to the killing of many innocent people each
year simply because of their religious convictions. The realistic and collective
responsibility, therefore, is to sustain mutual tolerance and respect of human rights
and a greater equality among citizens of different religions in order to achieve a
healthy democracy where the public role of religion and the distinction between religious
and temporal spheres are recognized. In practical life, when managed in the context
of mutual acceptance, the relations between majority and minority allow for cooperation
and compromise and open the way for peaceful and constructive coexistence. But to
achieve this desirable goal, there is a need to overcome a culture that devalues the
human person and is intent on eliminating religion from the public life. Pope Benedict
XVI has clearly describes this situation when he writes: “Sadly, in certain countries,
mainly in the West, one increasingly encounters in political and cultural circles,
as well in the media, scarce respect and at times hostility, if not scorn, directed
towards religion and towards Christianity in particular. It is clear that if relativism
is considered an essential element of democracy, one risks viewing secularity solely
in the sense of excluding or, more precisely, denying the social importance of religion.
But such an approach creates confrontation and division, disturbs peace, harms human
ecology and, by rejecting in principle approaches other than its own, finishes in
a dead end. There is thus an urgent need to delineate a positive and open secularity
which, grounded in the just autonomy of the temporal order and the spiritual order,
can foster healthy cooperation and a spirit of shared responsibility.”
Madam
President,
Religions are not a threat, but a resource. They contribute to the
development of civilizations, and this is good for everyone. Their activities and
freedom should be protected so that the partnership between religious beliefs and
societies may enhance the common good. A culture of tolerance, mutual acceptance and
dialogue is urgent. The educational system and the media have a major role to play
by excluding prejudice and hatred from textbooks, from newscasts and from newspapers,
and by disseminating accurate and fair information on all component groups of society.
But lack of education and information, that facilitates an easier manipulation of
people for political advantages, is too often linked to underdevelopment, poverty,
lack of access to effective participation in the management of society. Greater social
justice provides fertile ground for the implementation of all human rights. Religions
are communities based on convictions and their freedom guarantees a contribution of
moral values without which the freedom of everyone is not possible. For this reason,
it becomes an urgent and beneficial responsibility of the international community
to counteract the trend of increasing violence against religious groups and of a mistaken
and deceptive neutrality that in fact aims at neutralizing religion.