EUROPE/ITALY - Presentation of “Report 2006 on Religious Freedom in the World” produced by the Italian branch of Aid to the Church in Need

Friday, 14 July 2006

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The eighth edition of the annual “Report on Religious Freedom in the World” produced by the Italian branch of Aid to the Church in Need was presented today at the Foreign Press Association in Rome. The 2006 Report deals with the situation of religious freedom, violations and limitations of believers of all faiths in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
“The report - writes Italian journalist Orazio Petrosillo in the introduction - monitors not only the situation of Catholics or other Christians. Defending religious freedom all over the world is a priority commitment in the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. The right to freedom of religion - Fundamental human rights are the same on every latitude; and among them, pride of place must be given to the right to freedom of religion>, the Pontiff said in his address to the diplomatic Corps on 9 January 2006. At the Angelus on 4 December 2005, recalling the 40 anniversary of Vatican II’s declaration on religious freedom, he differentiated among the agents which violate its exercise: - Religious liberty is indeed very far from being effectively guaranteed everywhere: in certain cases it is denied for religious or ideological reasons; at other times, although it may be recognisable on paper, it is hindered in effect by political power or, more cunningly, by the cultural predomination of agnosticism and relativism>. The Report intends to inform the public of the situations in which “Aid to the Church in Need” operates and also to denounce the violation of a fundamental right such as freedom of religion is a factor which contributes to peace. In the mind of the Founder Fr Werenfried van Straaten, who died on 31 January 2003, informing and denouncing cannot fail to provoke a concrete and generous response to the calls for help coming from all over the world”.
The Report is enriched with a list of general consultation works, reports, periodicals, newspapers, agencies, web sites and statistics. The latter taken from the most reliable international sources the Church’s Year Book and the United High Commission for Refugees. (R.F.) (Agenzia Fides 27/6/2006 - righe 26, parole 371)


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