Anti-Christian prejudice growing in Europe: Abp Mamberti

Kiev, Ukraine, 7 December 2013: In an address to European government leaders, the Vatican’s top foreign-policy official warned of “ever more numerous acts against Christians motivated by prejudice.”

The painful phenomenon of anti-Christian bigotry is not confined to undeveloped countries, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, told at the 20^th gathering of the Council of ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), that concluded on Friday in Kiev, Ukraine. Anti-Christian prejudice exists in Europe as well, he said.

“We must not forget that there are episodes of intolerance and marginalization against religion and believers even in traditionally democratic societies where, fortunately, there is not violent persecution,” Archbishop Mamberti told the European government representatives. He said that it is disgraceful to see religious intolerance persisting in Europe, at a time when the European community is celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, which established an era of religious toleration.

Speaking to the OSCE group on other issues, the archbishop said that the Vatican is concerned about the lack of progress toward an accord on no-proliferation; would like to see “greater political will and a greater commitment” to environmental preservation; and insists that “migrants’ rights must be of primary consideration” in national policies.
Source: CWN