Rome (Fides Service) - On Friday 25 June the Italian branch of Aid to the Church in Need ACN presented its 2004 Report on Religious Freedom in the World ,with the objective of speaking up for the victims of violence, abuse relative to the denial of the right to religious freedom.
The 450 page Report, the 5th edition, lists violations of the right to religious freedom in 2003 with details regarding 190 different countries..
“The report is unique” said Attilio Tamburini, head of ACN Italy, “because as a Catholic association we are concerned with the religious freedom of all believers and not only Catholics since religious freedom is a natural right. Moreover the report is part of our overall activity to support 6000 projects to help the Church in need and it therefore also helps to give a correct description of the territory where ANC intervenes ”.
This year for the first time, on the occasion of the presentation of its report 2004, ACN Italy has organised “Forty Hours of Adoration for the Church in Need Chiesa ”, a marathon of prayer in Rome at the Basilica of S. Anastasia al Palatino from 6pm 24 June to 10.00 am 26 June. Similar prayers are being organised in other Italian cities Milan, Siracusa, Florence, Mestre and Portogruaro.
(P.L.R.) (Agenzia Fides 25/6/2004 - Righe 19; Parole 239)