“Let us seek to live in a way that is always worthy of our Christian vocation.”
These words, uttered by Pope Francis last November, should spur us on to become who we are. In many ways ‘religion’ is under siege today. The challenge for us is to continue to imitate Christ and His values, fearlessly, in the face of the forces that seek to destroy or repress religion.
Recently in India, I had an opportunity to engage in a long discussion with a wise old man who, like me, is concerned about the conflict between freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
The Executive Summary of the 2013 International Religious Freedom Report, produced by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, starts with this quotation by US President Barack Obama:
“History shows that nations that uphold the rights of their people – including the freedom of religion – are ultimately more just and more peaceful and more successful. Nations that do not uphold these rights sow the bitter seeds of instability and violence and extremism.”
We will only promote human rights effectively if we recognise the transcendent dignity of each human person. Our task is to promote mutual respect for each other as brothers and sisters in a world that seems determined to create conditions in which hatred, strife and conflict are the order of the day.
The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance state: “There is a growing minority of adults who have abandoned traditional organised religious beliefs about deity and define themselves in various ways…” The Consultants list a number of secular ‘belief’ systems, including Atheism, Agnosticism, Humanism, and Satanism (www.religioustolerance.org ).
While individuals have a right/are free to define themselves in whatever way they wish to, humanity must find a way to ensure that such a right does not violate the rights of others. Let me make it clear that I condemn the recent murders that took place in France by the two Islamist extremists who attacked the office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and by the other extremist who took people hostage in a Jewish supermarket there. Murder can NEVER be a justifiable response to what one may consider blasphemy against one’s religion.
Pope Francis rightly condemned the “tragic slayings”. He said: “Religious fundamentalism, even before it eliminates human beings by perpetrating horrendous killings, eliminates God himself, turning him into a mere ideological pretext.” Pope Francis also denounced the “abominable” kidnapping and enslavement of schoolgirls by Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria and the slaughter of “unspeakable brutality” of more than 100 children by the Taliban in Pakistan. (www.telegraph.co.uk).
However, many have questioned cheapest cialis professional the effectiveness of the treatment must be continued as per the instructions of the health problem. Getting this man impotence drug over the internet let the sufferers save their valuable time and hard levitra on line sales work . Whether it’s the online program or classroom training, we make sure that learning cialis canadian becomes a fun experience for the students. viagra spain According to the brand, the quantity of semen is directly proportional to his self-esteem. The world needs to act in the face of the atrocities being carried out in the name of religion by groups such as Boko Haram. The town of Baga in northern Nigeria was razed recently and as many as 2,000 people killed. All life is of worth. As the writer Richard Dowden says: “Will the ‘Je Suis Charlie’ movement open out and include all those suffering at the hands of extremists?…where is the Je Suis Nigeria movement?”
In relation to freedom of speech, Dowden states: “…although I would defend their right to draw and say what they like, these cartoonists did not respect or care about ordinary sincere believers who would have been deeply hurt by the violent dehumanised images of the founders of the great religions of the world. These were not just Muslims, but Christians and Sikhs and Buddhists as well. Some of those images came close to the sort of cartoons that the Nazis drew to depict Jews in the 1930s…As a good liberal I defend the right of everyone to write, draw or compose whatever they want. Let the public decide whether they want to see it or not…But if writers and cartoonists use the power of their pens to attack and mock the sincerely held beliefs of the poor and voiceless in society who cannot reply, that is not just mean, it is unjust. It is also provocative and will lead to violence. That is not a moral judgment. It is a fact.”
As Catholic News Service has reported, Pope Francis makes it clear that “one cannot kill in the name of one’s own religion, that is, in the name of God.” He recognises that freedom of expression is a “fundamental human right” like freedom of religion, but it should be exercised “without giving offence…One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith”.
Every religion “has its dignity”.
Let us pray and work for peace in our world.
