Dear Pauline Family & Friends,
Let us include in our prayers the realization of the urgent intention (shown in bold letters below) mentioned by Archbishop Tomasi as contained in the Vatican Information Service article quoted below:
"...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", Archbishop Tomasi concluded, "it becomes
an urgent and beneficial responsibility of the international community to
counteract the trend of increasing violence against religious groups and of
mistaken and deceptive neutrality that in fact aims at neutralising
religion".
QUOTE
SEVENTY
PER CENT OF WORLD POPULATION LIVE IN COUNTRIES WITH HIGH RESTRICTIONS ON
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Vatican
City, (VIS) - "Terrorist attacks on Christians in Africa, the Middle East
and Asia increased 309 per cent between 2003 and 2010. Approximately 70 per
cent of the world’s population lives in countries with high restrictions on
religious beliefs and practices, and religious minorities pay the highest
price". These words were pronounced on 1 March by Archbishop Silvano M.
Tomasi C.S., permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations at
Geneva, during the course of the nineteenth ordinary session of the Human
Rights Council.
Speaking
English, Archbishop Tomasi recalled how, "in general, rising restrictions
on religion affect more than 2.2 billion people. Those affected have either
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".
Among
the causes of this phenomenon, the archbishop mentioned "the evolving
political situation, wrong perceptions of the role of religion, expediency, and
subtle ambiguities in the understanding of secularism". In the current
situation, it is vital for the international community "to assure the
protection of people in their exercise of freedom of religion and religious
practice".
In
this context, the Holy See observer noted that States must guarantee all their
citizens the right to religious freedom, at both the individual and community
level. Freedom of religion is not a derived or granted right, "but a
fundamental and inalienable right of the human person. ... The task of
government is not to define religion, ... 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 recognised, especially when the latter becomes
the source of unjust treatment of others, whether they believe in other faiths
or have none".
The
archbishop went on: "Above the institutional considerations, the critical
problem facing the promotion and protection of 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 recognised. ... 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 public life".
"Religions
are not a threat, but a resource", he said. "They contribute to the
development of civilisations, and this is good for everyone. Their freedom and
activities should be protected so that the partnership between religious
beliefs and societies may enhance the common good. ... 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", Archbishop Tomasi concluded, "it becomes
an urgent and beneficial responsibility of the international community to
counteract the trend of increasing violence against religious groups and of
mistaken and deceptive neutrality that in fact aims at neutralising
religion".
UNQUOTE
Many thanks for your attentive co-operation in prayer. May Almighty God bless you and all your loved ones with His protection; and with spiritual and temporal blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Divine Master, Way, Truth and Life. Amen.
Respectfully,
Margie Skeels
Pauline Cooperator - NYC
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