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By Junno Arocho Esteves

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- An economic vision geared solely toward profit and material well-being has led to an economy of exclusion and inequality that has increased poverty and the number of people discarded "as unproductive and useless," Pope Francis said.

The impact is clear even in the most developed countries where poverty and social decay "represent a serious threat to families, the shrinking middle class and in a particular way our young people," the pope said May 13.

The pope addressed business leaders and experts in Catholic social teaching, who were attending an international conference on "business initiatives in the fight against poverty" sponsored by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation.

Established in 1993, the foundation seeks to promote the teaching of St. John Paul II's 1991 encyclical on social and economic justice.

Recalling his recent visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, the pope said the refugee crisis was "especially close to my heart," adding that the international community is challenged to "devise long-term political, social and economic responses" to the situation that "affects the entire human family."

"The fight against poverty is not merely a technical economic problem, but above all a moral one, calling for global solidarity and the development of more equitable approaches to the concrete needs and aspirations of individuals and peoples worldwide," he said.

Pope Francis encouraged the business leaders attending the conference to build "the foundations for a business and economic culture that is more inclusive and respectful of human dignity."

Youth unemployment, he continued, is a scandal that must be addressed "first and foremost" not only in economic terms, but as an urgent social ill that robs young people of hope and squanders "their great resources of energy, creativity and vision."

The pope encouraged Catholic business leaders to generate new models of economic progress geared toward the universal common good "in accordance with the values of God's kingdom."

"Yours is in fact a vocation at the service of human dignity and the building of a world of authentic solidarity," Pope Francis told them.

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By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis "did not say he intends to introduce a diaconal ordination for women," and he certainly did not speak about the ordination of women priests, the Vatican spokesman said.

Pope Francis met members of the International Union of Superiors General, the leadership group for superiors of women's orders, May 12 and accepted a proposal that he establish a commission to study the role of New Testament deaconesses and the possibility of women serving as deacons today.

After some news outlets reported the pope was considering ordaining women deacons and comments were made about women deacons leading to women priests, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi issued a clarification May 13.

The spokesman insisted "it is wrong to reduce all the important things the pope said to the religious women to just this question."

Women and the diaconate "is a question that has been discussed much, including in the past, and that comes from the fact that in the early church there were women who were called deaconesses, who carried out certain services within the community," Father Lombardi said.

Pope Francis told the sisters that he thought it would be a good idea to form a commission "to take up this question again in order to view it with greater clarity," Father Lombardi said. "But one must be honest: The pope did not say he intends to introduce a diaconal ordination for women and even less did he speak of the priestly ordination of women. In fact, talking about preaching during the eucharistic celebration, he let them know that he was not considering this possibility at all."

In a video statement May 13, Sister Carmen Sammut, superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and president of the UISG, said the sisters "were quite excited by the fact that Pope Francis did not leave any question out; he really wanted to answer each of our questions.

"He was very strong about the fact that women should be in the decision-making processes and the decision-making positions of the church," she said.

"About the diaconate," she said, the sisters "had proposed that there would be a commission. He accepted that proposal and has said that he would bring that forward so that it could be studied even more than it has already. And I hope that one day there will be a real decision about this."

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The 17-year cicadas are coming again, millions of them, with their unnerving red eyes, orange wings and cacophonous mating song that can drown out the noise of passing jet planes....

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BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- Brazil's new finance minister said Friday that he'll tackle pension reform and labor law reform, signaling potentially sensitive changes for a sputtering economy a day after President Dilma Rousseff was suspended....

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Back when Donald Trump's love life was tabloid heaven, a Trump spokesman with intimate knowledge of the businessman's personal relationships offered juicy stories about a failing marriage, a new live-in paramour and three other girlfriends he was juggling at once....

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LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The billionaire presidential candidate who prides himself on paying his own way and bashed his competition for relying on political donors now wants their money - and lots of it....

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(Vatican Radio) With the reform of the Vatican IOR making a landmark on Thursday, one possible way of putting into practice Pope Francis’ challenges to the 'globalization of indifference' in our global economy could be investment in funds for local infrastructure projects. 

The Vatican IOR on Thursday released its Annual Report on 2015, saying it’s now "impossible to launder money" through them.

Fr. Seamus Finn of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate is the Board Chairman of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which comprises nearly 300 organizations and collectively represents over $100 billion in invested capital.

Nearly a year on from the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, Devin Watkins spoke to Oblate Fr. Seamus Finn about how the Holy Father’s challenges to the global economy have been put into practice.

Listen to the full interview:

Laudato Si' in practice

Fr. Finn said that several religious organizations have made efforts to put into practice Pope Francis' challenges to our global economy, or the 'globalization of indifference' as the Pope calls it.

"I think we're at the stage now of trying to practically apply the challenges the Holy Father has put out there about the economic system that we have. So, very simply, how do we really respond to the 'globalization of indifference' that he seems to feel is one of the consequences of the affluence of the first world and the domination of first world in term of the economic system."

As Chair of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Fr. Finn assists corporations and religious institutions in investing and operating in a faith-conscious manner. He said there are several projects which aim at putting Pope Francis' teachings into practice.

"We have spent a lot of time looking at some of the private equity initiatives that are out there... Some individuals and groups of individuals have come forward and constructed funds that are specifically targeted at addressing the issues related to energy, agriculture, housing, telecommunications, financial services. And they feel they've come up with ways in which they can creatively do that in a way that's profitable for investors and that serves populations that are now underserved or that governments are not able to [serve]."

"An example of one of those funds is an energy fund in the Caribbean. These folks have been diligently looking at, can we take solar energy and wind energy and develop it at a scale in which the local governments - who have been unable to deliver enough energy these local populations - can invest."

Vatican IOR reform possibilities

Fr. Finn commented on the reform process taking place within the Vatican IOR and APSA, saying "I think they've made great progress in the reforms that have been put in place. I think they've responded well to the challenges of the European Union in terms of trying to fit more accurately and transparently into the larger community."

He said, "I'm hopeful they will begin now to look at some of these projects and say, 'we're not as rich as people think we are but we could profitably and responsibly advise our clients or invest some of our capital in some of these funds and do it in a way that we might then hold up [as examples of ways in which] we are responding to the challenges the Holy Father has put out there for all of us. I think it would do wonders for their reputation and their image."

 

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(Vatican Radio) Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, called for world leaders to “strike terrorism at its very roots and where it must primarily be fought: namely, in the hearts and minds of men and women,” especially the youth, who are at risk of radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups.

In his statement made on Wednesday to the UN Security Council Open Debate on Countering the Narratives and Ideologies of Terrorism, the Archbishop stated that while countering the “narratives and ideologies” of terrorist organizations is the responsibility of all, religious authorities have a particular responsibility to do so.

“The fight to unmask the lies behind the narratives and ideologies of present-day terrorist groups” the Archbishop stated, calls for “all religions to unite in confronting not only the unacceptable misuse of religion by these groups, but also all forms of religious bigotry, stereotyping and disrespect for what people hold sacred.”

The Archbishop continued by stating that education was the most important tool in combating this ideology. “Much of the recruiting success of terror groups” he said, “is based on misinformation and the distortion of both history and the meaning of sacred texts. Objective education would counter these false narratives.”

While reemphasizing his earlier statements on the importance of religious leaders to engage in combating radicalization, Archbishop Auza also acknowledged that insofar as much of the radicalization occurs in poor immigrant communities that have not fully integrated with the rest of society, government officials should “engage with civil society to address the problems of communities most at risk of radicalization and recruitment and to achieve the satisfactory social integration of those communities. ” In addition, terrorist’s “access to cyber space must be denied” in order to prevent their narratives and ideologies from “poisoning the hearts and minds of millions of people.”

“The Holy See is convinced” the Archbishop stated in his concluding remarks, “that if we are to win the minds and hearts of our children and young people and prevent their joining terrorist groups, we must build inclusive societies and prevent illicit arms trafficking, build bridges rather than walls, and engage in dialogue rather than in mutual isolation.”

The full text of his statement is below:

Statement of H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, at the Security Council Open Debate on Countering the Narratives and Ideologies of Terrorism, delivered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, 11 May 2016.

11 May 2016

Mr. President,

The Holy See sincerely thanks the Presidency of Egypt for bringing the topic of countering the narratives and ideologies of terrorism to the attention of the Security Council and of the International Community.

The theme of this Open Debate is extremely important, because it calls us to strike terrorism at its very roots and where it must primarily be fought: namely, in the hearts and minds of men and women, in particular of those who are most at risk of radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups.

The narratives and ideologies of present-day terrorist groups are well known. They do not attempt to conceal their purportedly religiously inspired beliefs, values and principles. Terrorist groups identify multiple “enemies”, so that those who respond to their propaganda can “legitimately” attack these “enemies” wherever they may be, whether in Paris or in Brussels, in Istanbul, in Aleppo, or elsewhere.

Countering the narratives and ideologies of terrorist groups is a grave responsibility of all. It should be recalled, however, that by building their ideological narratives, which justify their horrendous acts of violence, upon tendentious interpretations and an abusive use of sacred texts, terrorists groups are throwing down the gauntlet principally to religious leaders and to the authoritative interpreters of these same texts. Religious authorities, therefore, have a particular responsibility to refute the falsehoods and condemn the blasphemy of terrorist narratives and ideologies. Religious leaders and people of faith must be at the forefront in delegitimizing the manipulation of faith and the distortion of sacred texts as a justification for violence. Anyone who considers himself or herself a believer while planning and carrying out actions against the fundamental rights and dignity of every man and woman, must be condemned.

The fight to unmask the lies behind the narratives and ideologies of present-day terrorist groups summons all religions to unite in confronting not only the unacceptable misuse of religion by these groups, but also all forms of religious bigotry, stereotyping and disrespect for what people hold sacred. Religious leaders must be the first to demonstrate what the Fourth Meeting of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies of Amman, in the Vatican last May 7th, called "the humanizing and civilizing role of our religions."

This brings us to the fundamental importance of education in countering narratives and ideologies of terrorism. Much of the recruiting success of terror groups is based on misinformation and the distortion of both history and the meaning of sacred texts. Objective education would counter these false narratives. The Marrakesh Declaration is to be commended for urging “Muslim educational institutions and authorities to conduct a courageous review of educational curricula that addresses honestly and effectively any material that instigates aggression and extremism, leads to war and chaos, and results in the destruction of our shared societies.”

My Delegation believes that the more religion is manipulated to justify acts of terror and violence, the more religious leaders must be engaged in the overall effort to defeat the terrorism that hijacks it. Spurious religious fervor must be countered by authentic religious instruction and by the example of authentic communities of faith. There is a strong nexus between religion and diplomacy, between faith-based “informal diplomacy” and the formal diplomacy of States. Strengthening this nexus would be wise diplomacy, given its enormous potential in confronting terrorism at its very roots.

Measures to counter the narratives and ideologies of terrorism must address the root causes upon which terrorism feeds, which make even the most outrageous claims of the terrorist groups sound credible. Young people who join the ranks of terrorist organizations often come from poor immigrant families, disillusioned by the lack of integration and values in certain societies. Those who feel excluded from, or live at the fringes of, society are immediately attracted to terrorists proclaiming themselves as “freedom fighters.” Governments should engage with civil society to address the problems of communities most at risk of radicalization and recruitment and to achieve the satisfactory social integration of those communities. Certain terrorist groups have excelled in the art of cyber recruitment, giving them transnational and borderless reach. Their access to cyber space must be denied to prevent their narratives and ideologies from poisoning the hearts and minds of millions of people everywhere, to cut off their financing activities and to disrupt the coordination of terrorist attacks.

Mr. President, The Holy See is convinced that if we are to win the minds and hearts of our children and young people and prevent their joining terrorist groups, we must build inclusive societies and prevent illicit arms trafficking, build bridges rather than walls, and engage in dialogue rather than in mutual isolation. Thank you, Mr. President.

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(Vatican Radio) It’s been 25 years since Pope St. John Paul II’s watershed encyclical on politics, economics, and society and to mark the occasion the Centesimus annus – pro Pontifice Foundation has organized a major international conference to mark this anniversary.

The theme for this event which bring together leaders in commerce, industry, charity, relief, reconciliation, and peacebuilding is “Business Initiative in the Fight Against Poverty: The Refugee Emergency, our Challenge”, and it was on these themes of poverty and migration that Pope Francis took his cue when he addressed conference participants on Friday in the Vatican.

Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report

The Holy Father described to those gathered what he witnessed on his recent visit to the Greek island of Lesbos when he saw for himself the full scale of the refugee crisis.

The Pope recalled, “heartrending scenes of human suffering, especially on the part of families and children” and he told the group he was “grateful for their readiness to bring their expertise and experience to the discussion of these critical humanitarian issues…”

Looking at the issues of poverty and migration from a global perspective, Pope Francis underlined that the international community was being challenged to devise long-term political, social and economic responses to issues such as these “that transcend national and continental boundaries, and affect the entire human family.”

“The fight against poverty”, the Pope stressed,  “was not merely a technical economic problem, but above all a moral one, calling for global solidarity and the development of more equitable approaches to the concrete needs and aspirations of individuals and peoples worldwide.”

An economy of exclusion and inequality has led to greater numbers of disenfranchised reiterated the Pope, as he pinpointed to the numbers of young people unable to find work, which he called a scandal. He also noted how in more developed societies the growth of relative poverty and social decay represented a serious threat to families.

Concluding his address the Holy Father said it was his hope that this Conference would contribute to generating new models of economic progress more clearly directed to the universal common good.

The 2016 Centesimus annus – pro Pontifice Foundation international conference runs from the 12^th to 14^th May.

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(Vatican Radio) Bishop Ángel Ayuso Guixot addressed the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations this week in Tokyo about the need to protect minorities in Muslim majority states. The prelate quoted  Pope Francis in his desire that the world be “be ever more attentive, sensitive and participant in face of persecutions carried out in dealings with Christians and, more in general, of religious minorities.”

“The purpose of this High-Level Consultation” the Bishop stated,  “should lead us all to invite to respect for all regardless of religious identity; commitment towards supporting citizenships rights of Christians in the Middle East; and engagement through dialogue.”

The Bishop continued by raising various issues required in order to promote religious freedom, including promoting social justice, cooperating in the financial world situation and poverty, promoting interreligious dialogue, and upholding “fundamental principles of ethical living.”

The prelate concluded his remarks by calling to mind the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on religious liberty.

The full text of the speech can be found below:

Religions for Peace (RfP)

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

High-Level International Consultation

May 12-13, 2016

The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, Japan

Partnering with Religious Leaders of the Middle East in Advancing the Protection of Minorities in Muslim Majority Statesby His Excellency Bishop Miguel Ángel AYUSO GUIXOT Secretary Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

Mr Chairman,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honor for me to be here with you to share in this High Level International Consultation to share on such an important issue that for me, as a Catholic, is the cornerstone on which to build our future in the Middle East, as in the entire world. I mean “citizenship”!

As part of this selected group of scholars and personalities, I hope that our reflections will contribute to advance in overcoming, in a global society, the limited concepts of majority/minority, protection, tolerance, etc.

Pope Francis, referring to the situation of displaced persons in the Middle East, asked that “world public opinion be ever more attentive, sensitive and participant in face of the persecutions carried out in dealings with Christians and, more in general, of religious minorities”… hoping that  “the International Community will not remain silent and inert in face of such unacceptable crimes, which constitute a worrying disregard of the most essential human rights and impedes the richness of coexistence among peoples, cultures and faiths." (Pope Francis, Letter addressed to His Excellency Bishop Lahham, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem for the Latins, Vicar Patriarchate for Jordan, 6 August 2015.)

Therefore, this High-Level Consultation should support citizenship rights and peaceful coexistence, as something very appropriate. In the Final Message of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, the Synod Fathers stated that “we are united by faith in one God and by the commandment that teaches us to do good and avoid evil”, that “we will build our civil societies on citizenship, religious liberty, and liberty of conscience”, and that “it is therefore our duty to educate believers in interreligious dialogue, the acceptance of pluralism, and mutual respect and esteem.” “Our mission and vocation,” they declared, is to “live together, as Christians and Muslims” (October 23, 2010).

“Christians are particularly concerned for the fundamental rights of the human person. It is wrong to claim that these rights are only ‘Christian’ human rights. They are nothing less than the rights demanded by the dignity of each human person and each citizen, whatever his or her origins, religious convictions and political preferences…” (Ecclesia in the Middle East, n. 25).

We all know that many times Pope Francis has wished to give voice to the atrocious, inhuman and unexplainable persecution of those in so many parts of the world – and above all among Christians – who are victims of fanaticism and intolerance, often under the eyes and in the silence of the entire world.

The purpose of this High-Level Consultation should lead us all to invite to respect for all regardless of religious identity; commitment towards supporting citizenships rights of Christians in the Middle East; and engagement through dialogue. My participation to this Consultation is because I am convinced that it is a excellent initiative to invite all parts involved once more to act and to contribute in promoting citizenship and true coexistence for all!!!

The attention of the whole world is fixed on the Middle East as it tries to seek its path. “May this region demonstrate that coexistence is not a utopia, and that distrust and prejudice are not a foregone conclusions. Religions can join one another in service to the common good and contribute to the development of each person and the building of society” (Ecclesia in the Middle East, n. 28). “The peaceful coexistence of different religious communities is an inestimable benefit to peace and to harmonious human advancement. This is something of value which needs to be protected and nourished each day, by providing an education which respects differences and particular identities, so that dialogue and cooperation for the good of all may be promoted and strengthened by mutual understanding and esteem. It is a gift which we need to implore from God in prayer” (Pope Francis, Address to Civil Authorities, Presidential Palace, Tirana, 21 September 2014).

OTHER POINTS FOR REFLECTION

In building a more fraternal world, we are called to promote social justice. The thirst and search for justice is common to all human beings trying to build up a more humane society. However, for us as believers, there is a higher common ground on which to build. Unfortunately, the role of religion in modern society is often misunderstood, unappreciated and even criticised as a source of problems and conflicts that make ill modern society. In his address to representatives of British Society, diplomats, politicians, academics and business leaders in Westminster Hall, during his visit to Great Britain in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI noted that “distorted forms of religion, such as sectarianism and fundamentalism” can create social problems. Religion, properly understood and properly appreciated, according to Pope Benedict, has an important role to play in political debate which is “to help purify and shed light upon the application of reason to the discovery of objective moral principles”. Therefore, Pope Benedict concluded, “Religion… is not a problem… but a vital contributor to national conversation.” Religious freedom is at the heart of the social project and is necessary for social justice. Religious freedom, therefore, is the fundamental basis for all other freedoms. As Pope Benedict XVI stated in his Message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace on January 1 2011: “to deny or arbitrarily restrict this freedom is to foster a reductive vision of the human person; to eclipse the public role of religion is to create a society which is unjust, inasmuch as it fails to take account of the true nature of the human person; it is to stifle the growth of the authentic and lasting peace of the whole human family”. Addressing the Political and Religious leaders and representatives of the world of Culture on 15 September 2012 in Beirut, Pope Benedict XVI once underlined the importance of religious freedom that “has a social and political dimension which is indispensable for peace!” In fact, Christians and Muslims are called to promote a culture of peace. "As religious believers, it’s up to us all to be educators of peace, of human rights, of a freedom which respects each person, but also to ensure increasingly strong social bonds, because man must take care of his human brothers and sisters without discrimination. […]Together, as members of different religious traditions, we are called to spread a teaching which honours all human creatures, a message of love between individuals and peoples. We are particularly responsible for ensuring that our young people, who will be in charge of tomorrow’s world, are formed in this spirit (Message PCID Ramadan 2007, n. 3).

Addressing social concerns should lead us to cooperate in certain particular areas, like, for example, in the financial world situation and the poverty that is spreading worldwide. In fact, rich nations have a grave moral responsibility toward those who are unable to ensure the means of their development by themselves or have been prevented from doing so by tragic historical events. It is a duty in solidarity and charity; it is also an obligation in justice because the prosperity of the rich nations has come from resources that have not been paid for fairly (Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2439).

Today, our global society multiplies the occasions for an exchange through interreligious dialogue that the world needs. In fact, we have an urgent need that we, as believers, give a witness of the "transcendent" in a world always more and more secularized. In particular, "As men and women of religion, we are challenged by the widespread longing for justice, development, solidarity, freedom, security, peace, defence of life, protection of the environment and of the resources of the earth. This is because we too, while respecting the legitimate autonomy of temporal affairs, have a specific contribution to offer in the search for proper solutions to these pressing questions. Above all, we can offer a credible response to the question which emerges clearly from today’s society, even if it is often brushed aside, the question about the meaning and purpose of life, for each individual and for humanity as a whole. (Address of Pope Benedict XVI to the President of the Religious Affairs Directorate of Turkey at the "Diyanet" of Ankara, November 28, 2006).

It is the duty of believers to uphold the fundamental principles of ethical living. Religion has a decided hold over the lives of the people and therefore religions should be alert to the changing trends in society. Humanity without discipline is like an unbridled horse. Human beings are in need of direction and it has to be based on divine precepts and natural law. Religious beliefs must help people to discern the voice and appeals of conscience as well as to seek what is true and good. In practical life, religion must help one to “do good and avoid evil”. Human dignity is above all the highest principle. Personhood must be acknowledged. Anything that destroys or negatively affects the dignity and freedom of human beings must be considered immoral. Fidelity and service to “truth and good” must be the general norm in every form of human expression. Religion has a duty to protect the rights of all and help all to fulfil their ethical obligations. At the beginning of the Pontificate, the newly elected Pope Francis stressed the importance of protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world in the spirit of the Book of Genesis and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed us. He said that to be ‘protectors’ of Creation “means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about. It means caring for one another in our families: husbands and wives first protect one another, and then, as parents, they care for their children, and children themselves, in time, protect their parents. It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect, and goodness. (Homily §Beginning Pontificate Pope Francis, 19 March 2013).

The subject of social and environmental protection arises as a genuine point of convergence among Jews, Christians and Muslim, a joint mission to see to the protection of our earthly city in a spirit of unity, within our diverse respective religious traditions, as a shared responsibility for all.

In its teaching on Religious Freedom, the Second Vatican Council taught that "the human person has a right to religious freedom," that this right means that everyone should be "immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups, and every human power" in acting on religious convictions, and that this right is exercised "in private or in public, alone or in association with others," (Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae, n.2). The Council, in delimitating the coercive power of the State, outlined some of the basic requirements of a just society. As we have already stated earlier, how a society recognises and upholds the basic tenets of Religious Freedom, is for it to decide, but it seems that the most basic requirement is to anchor these rights in basic constitutional rights and guarantees in the Rule of Law. Since religion is not a mere private matter of the individual, the freedom from coercion in matters of belief for the individual, also apply 'in public ... or in association with others' so that the State has no right to coerce or attempt to control the internal life of a religious community, to determine its creed, or to use it as a means of social control.

In 1979, Pope John Paul II, in addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations, described religious freedom as the first of human rights, and in his speech to the same body sixteen years later, in 1995, when he cited the role of religious freedom in helping bring about the collapse of European Communism, he made a profound statement about the power of the moral voice of religion to hold tyranny to account.

In continuity with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and the teaching of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI continues to champion religious freedom as the basis of all other freedoms, such as in Lebanon just last month. For the celebration of World Day of Peace on 1 January 2011, Pope Benedict XVI dedicated his annual message to the theme of religious freedom. It is worth recalling what he said there:

"Religious freedom expresses what is unique about the human person, for it allows us to direct our personal and social life to God, in whose light the identity, meaning and purpose of the person are fully understood. To deny or arbitrarily restrict this freedom is to foster a reductive vision of the human person; to eclipse the public role of religion is to create a society which is unjust, inasmuch as it fails to take account of the true nature of the human person; it is to stifle the growth of the authentic and lasting peace of the whole human family.

"For this reason, I implore all men and women of good will to renew their commitment to building a world where all are free to profess their religion or faith, and to express their love of God with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind (cf Mt 22:37)."

During his address to Political and Religious Leaders and Representatives of the World of Culture on 15 September last in Beirut, Pope Benedict XVI underlined the importance of religious freedom:

"It cannot be forgotten that religious freedom is the basic right on which many other rights depend. The freedom to profess and practise one's religion without danger to life and liberty must be possible to everyone. The loss or attenuation of this freedom deprives the person of his or her sacred right to a spiritually integrated life. What nowadays passes for tolerance does not eliminate cases of discrimination, and at times it even reinforces them. Without openness to transcendence, which makes it possible to find answers to their deepest questions about the meaning of life and morally upright conduct, men and women become incapable of acting justly and working for peace. Religious freedom has a social and political dimension which is indispensable for peace! It promotes a harmonious life for individuals and communities by a shared commitment to noble causes and by the pursuit of truth, which does not impose itself by violence but rather ‘by the force of its own truth’”.

Therefore, all of us are called to renew our commitment, with a sense of shared responsibility, for the promotion of greater social justice, through religious freedom, for a lasting and secure peace in the world. Echoing what Pope Benedict XVI said during his visit to Lebanon, may I conclude saying:

 “Thoughts of peace, words of peace and acts of peace create an atmosphere of respect, honesty and cordiality, where faults and offences can be truthfully acknowledged as a means of advancing together on the path of reconciliation. May political and religious leaders reflect on this!”  (Meeting with Members of the Government, Institutions of the Republic, the Diplomatic Corps, Religious Leaders and Representatives of the World of Culture, 15 September 2012, Lebanon).

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