Religious freedom, "touchstone" for human rights
by Lorenzo Fazzini
2004 Report on Religious Freedom presented today in Rome
Rome (AsiaNews) -- "The uncovering of religious freedom violations should lead to political action. From the Catholic world as well." This is how Attilio Tamburrini, director of Aid to the Church in Need* (ACN), introduces the 2004 Report on Religious Freedom in the World which was presented this morning in Rome. Published each year, the Report is a non-confessional and well-documented cross-section of religious freedom in the world.
On the occasion of the presentation of this year's report, ACN Italy is promoting "Forty Hours for the Church in need", which is currently being held in various cities (Milan, Florence, Siracusa). In Rome, the event is being held at the Saint Anastasia-at-the-Palatine Church and includes prayer moments, information and testimonials on the persecuted Church in the world.
AsiaNews interviewed Attilio Tamburini on the contents of the 2004 Report.
In these last 12 months, what changes have come to light in terms of religious freedom in Asia?
We have noted a trend: there seems to be a split within the Muslim world between supporters of fundamentalism and various Islamic governments that want to maintain religious freedom. A trend that, for now, has only been hinted at but that makes us hopeful.
With an Islamic world on the move, China is backtracking...
The Chinese giant is sick: we must become aware of this. In China, tensions around religion have increased, as was expected. The recent arrest of Catholic bishops is proof of this. Italy is still lacking an awareness of this. Even in the Catholic world. A new political, cultural and economic awareness is needed.
Why do you link the economy to religious freedom?
Economic investment should take into account the respect for human rights. And the Pope has frequently said that religious freedom is the real test of the defence of human rights. This is why it is not worthwhile to invest in places where religious freedom in not respected. It is worthwhile for the business world to invest in countries where every religious faith can be practiced freely. Because this is guarantees the respect of human rights.
The Report is not intended to be only a form of denunciaton and protest...
That's right. We hope that in Italy an awareness will develop for situations in the world where religious freedom is denied. This can give rise to political pressure. There is no future for a world where suffering exists due to the lack of religious freedom.
*Aid to the Church in Need is an international Catholic charity under papal jurisdiction, founded in 1947 by Father Werenfried van Straaten, a Dutch Norbertine monk. It is the most important organization for emergency assistance to the persecuted Church and carries out each year some 6,000 interventions, including ones of a ecumenical nature, to help the evangelizing efforts of the Church. ACN is also an observatory for religious freedom in the world. In this regard, it publishes each year a report on the conditions of religious freedom. Its international site is www.kirche-in-not.org. In Italian, www.acs-italia.org.
* ACN efforts follow closely the numerous appeals of John Paul II on religious freedom. One of the most famous of these appeals was made by the Holy Father in his speech to the Diplomatic Corps in 1989: "Among the fundamental freedoms which the Church must defend, first place naturally goes to religious freedom. The right to freedom of religion is so closely linked to other fundamental rights that it can rightly be argued that respect for religious freedom is, as it were, a touchstone for the observance of other fundamental rights."
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