ASIA/JAPAN - With regard to constitutional amendments the Catholic Bishops religious freedom and separation of Government and Religion must be respected

Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) - “Give to Cesar what belongs to Cesar and to God what belongs to God”: the Catholic Church in Japan recalls that for a correct harmony between government and religion it is useful to follow the Gospel principle. The function and role of the state and space for religious communities must be clearly defined in a spirit of reciprocal respect.
The subject has arisen with the present discussion on constitutional amendments.
Speaking of the ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Japan's Constitution at the beginning of May the prime minister Shinzo Abe said “courageous revision of the post-war regime and serious discussion on the Constitution will help the people to trace a new path towards a new era ”, announcing plans to amend the Constitution.
The Catholic Bishops of Japan replied with a message in which they defend article 20 of the Constitution which sanctions the separation of religion from government, respect for human rights, freedom of belief and faith of every citizen. The text makes an historical excursus in relations between religion and government in Japan and focuses on Catholic Social Doctrine on this subject referring also to the Second Vatican Council.
With regard to “separation” of Government and Religion the Bishops write "The separation of Government and Religion is often misunderstood as "separation of religious life and political activities", in other words that the religious organisations and individuals should not engage in political matters. However the principle of the separation of Government and Religion, which stipulates the relationship between states and religious organisations, does not prevent religious organisations and individuals from announcing and responding to political matters based on their belief."
In particular the bishops reject "conspicuous opinions from the ideas that religious acts can be made by the State and public organisations within the limit of "practices of social courtesy or folkway". The new draft constitution derived from such an idea was announced as well". The principle of separation of Government and Religion is essential if Japan is to build peace at home and with her Asian neighbours, the message concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/5/2007 righe 27 parole 271)