Church-sponsored conference on international religious freedom

(Vatican Radio) International Religious Freedom: An Imperative for Peace and the Common Good. That’s the title of a conference jointly sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic University of America that was taking place in Washington on Wednesday. Among the participants attending the one-day conference was Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. He spoke to Vatican Radio's Susy Hodges and explained why the issue of international religious freedom is so "important and timely."

Another of the participants who spoke to Susy Hodges was John Garvey, President of the Catholic University of America, who spoke about why he believes threats to religious freedom are growing around the world.

Listen to the extended interviews with Bishop Richard Pates and with John Garvey: