{"id":17399,"date":"2016-12-15T22:32:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-15T22:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk-33538\/"},"modified":"2016-12-15T22:32:00","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T22:32:00","slug":"vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one's professional life has never been more threatened,\u201d Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14.<\/p>\n

He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled \u201cTowards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

Religious freedom is the \u201clitmus test\u201d of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their \u201csynthesis and keystone,\u201d he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity.<\/p>\n

Pointing to the \u201cbarbaric persecution of Christians\u201d happening in the Middle East, he said \u201cthe atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the \u201cshadow of violent extremism and terrorism\u201d in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place \u201cat the very doorstep\u201d of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view \u201cis not based on reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again\u2026easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n

He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and \u201csacrilegious misuse\u201d who what Christians consider holy, as an example.<\/p>\n

All of these, the priest said, are examples \u201cof not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion \u201cis not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,\u201d he said, noting that others argue \u201cthat the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.\u201d<\/p>\n

A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths.<\/p>\n

Still others \u201cparadoxically\u201d argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles \u201cshould be required at times to act against their conscience,\u201d Camilleri said.<\/p>\n

These examples are all part of \u201cwhat may rightly be called 'anti-Christian sentiment,'\u201d and represent \u201ca new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians\u2026based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery right entails obligations and duties,\u201d he said. \u201cTherefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher \u201cwho respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church\u201d is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are \u201cuncomfortable\u201d with what he has to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,\u201d he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, \u201cfree from any pressure to hide or disguise it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as \u201cthe polite persecution of Christians\u201d in many countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the guise of 'political correctness,' Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,\u201d the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its \u201clegitimate role\u201d in society \u201cbetrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole.<\/p>\n

The Church, he said, \u201cdoes not pretend\u2026to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world\u2019s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole.<\/p>\n

Religion by its nature \u201cis open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision\u201d and a \u201chorizon of fraternity\u201d capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said.<\/p>\n

The Holy See, then, \u201cis convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, \u201care an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life.<\/p>\n

“To act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one’s professional life has never been more threatened,” Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14.<\/p>\n

He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled “Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.”<\/p>\n

Religious freedom is the “litmus test” of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their “synthesis and keystone,” he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity.<\/p>\n

Pointing to the “barbaric persecution of Christians” happening in the Middle East, he said “the atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.”<\/p>\n

He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the “shadow of violent extremism and terrorism” in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place “at the very doorstep” of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna.<\/p>\n

“We must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,” he said.<\/p>\n

Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view “is not based on reality.”<\/p>\n

“The continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again…easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,” he observed.<\/p>\n

He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and “sacrilegious misuse” who what Christians consider holy, as an example.<\/p>\n

All of these, the priest said, are examples “of not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.”<\/p>\n

Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion “is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.”<\/p>\n

“There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,” he said, noting that others argue “that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.”<\/p>\n

A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths.<\/p>\n

Still others “paradoxically” argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles “should be required at times to act against their conscience,” Camilleri said.<\/p>\n

These examples are all part of “what may rightly be called ‘anti-Christian sentiment,’” and represent “a new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians…based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.”<\/p>\n

When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said.<\/p>\n

“Every right entails obligations and duties,” he said. “Therefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.”<\/p>\n

However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher “who respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church” is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are “uncomfortable” with what he has to say.<\/p>\n

“We must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,” he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, “free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.”<\/p>\n

Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as “the polite persecution of Christians” in many countries.<\/p>\n

“In the guise of ‘political correctness,’ Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,” the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its “legitimate role” in society “betrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.”<\/p>\n

Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole.<\/p>\n

The Church, he said, “does not pretend…to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world’s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.”<\/p>\n

What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole.<\/p>\n

Religion by its nature “is open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision” and a “horizon of fraternity” capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said.<\/p>\n

The Holy See, then, “is convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.”<\/p>\n

Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, “are an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.”<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\nVatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life. “To act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one's professional life has never been more threatened,” Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14. He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled “Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.” Religious freedom is the “litmus test” of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their “synthesis and keystone,” he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity. Pointing to the “barbaric persecution of Christians” happening in the Middle East, he said “the atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.” He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the “shadow of violent extremism and terrorism” in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place “at the very doorstep” of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna. “We must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,” he said. Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view “is not based on reality.” “The continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again...easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,” he observed. He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and “sacrilegious misuse” who what Christians consider holy, as an example. All of these, the priest said, are examples “of not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.” Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion “is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.” “There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,” he said, noting that others argue “that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.” A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths. Still others “paradoxically” argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles “should be required at times to act against their conscience,” Camilleri said. These examples are all part of “what may rightly be called 'anti-Christian sentiment,'” and represent “a new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians...based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.” When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said. “Every right entails obligations and duties,” he said. “Therefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.” However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher “who respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church” is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are “uncomfortable” with what he has to say. “We must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,” he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, “free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.” Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as “the polite persecution of Christians” in many countries. “In the guise of 'political correctness,' Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,” the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its “legitimate role” in society “betrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.” Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole. The Church, he said, “does not pretend...to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world’s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.” What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole. Religion by its nature “is open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision” and a “horizon of fraternity” capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said. The Holy See, then, “is convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.” Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, “are an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.”\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life. “To act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one's professional life has never been more threatened,” Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14. He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled “Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.” Religious freedom is the “litmus test” of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their “synthesis and keystone,” he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity. Pointing to the “barbaric persecution of Christians” happening in the Middle East, he said “the atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.” He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the “shadow of violent extremism and terrorism” in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place “at the very doorstep” of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna. “We must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,” he said. Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view “is not based on reality.” “The continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again...easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,” he observed. He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and “sacrilegious misuse” who what Christians consider holy, as an example. All of these, the priest said, are examples “of not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.” Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion “is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.” “There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,” he said, noting that others argue “that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.” A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths. Still others “paradoxically” argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles “should be required at times to act against their conscience,” Camilleri said. These examples are all part of “what may rightly be called 'anti-Christian sentiment,'” and represent “a new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians...based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.” When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said. “Every right entails obligations and duties,” he said. “Therefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.” However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher “who respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church” is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are “uncomfortable” with what he has to say. “We must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,” he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, “free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.” Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as “the polite persecution of Christians” in many countries. “In the guise of 'political correctness,' Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,” the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its “legitimate role” in society “betrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.” Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole. The Church, he said, “does not pretend...to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world’s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.” What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole. Religion by its nature “is open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision” and a “horizon of fraternity” capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said. The Holy See, then, “is convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.” Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, “are an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.”\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Catholic News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-12-15T22:32:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/images\/St_Peters_Squre_Credit_Vladimir_Sazonov_Shutterstock_CNA.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"CNA Daily News\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"CNA Daily News\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/\",\"name\":\"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-12-15T22:32:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-12-15T22:32:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1\"},\"description\":\"Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life. “To act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one's professional life has never been more threatened,” Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14. He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled “Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.” Religious freedom is the “litmus test” of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their “synthesis and keystone,” he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity. Pointing to the “barbaric persecution of Christians” happening in the Middle East, he said “the atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.” He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the “shadow of violent extremism and terrorism” in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place “at the very doorstep” of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna. “We must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,” he said. Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view “is not based on reality.” “The continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again...easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,” he observed. He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and “sacrilegious misuse” who what Christians consider holy, as an example. All of these, the priest said, are examples “of not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.” Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion “is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.” “There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,” he said, noting that others argue “that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.” A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths. Still others “paradoxically” argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles “should be required at times to act against their conscience,” Camilleri said. These examples are all part of “what may rightly be called 'anti-Christian sentiment,'” and represent “a new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians...based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.” When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said. “Every right entails obligations and duties,” he said. “Therefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.” However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher “who respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church” is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are “uncomfortable” with what he has to say. “We must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,” he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, “free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.” Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as “the polite persecution of Christians” in many countries. “In the guise of 'political correctness,' Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,” the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its “legitimate role” in society “betrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.” Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole. The Church, he said, “does not pretend...to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world’s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.” What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole. Religion by its nature “is open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision” and a “horizon of fraternity” capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said. The Holy See, then, “is convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.” Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, “are an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.”\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/\",\"name\":\"Catholic News\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1\",\"name\":\"CNA Daily News\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"CNA Daily News\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/author\/cna-daily-news\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk","description":"Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life. “To act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one's professional life has never been more threatened,” Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14. He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled “Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.” Religious freedom is the “litmus test” of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their “synthesis and keystone,” he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity. Pointing to the “barbaric persecution of Christians” happening in the Middle East, he said “the atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.” He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the “shadow of violent extremism and terrorism” in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place “at the very doorstep” of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna. “We must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,” he said. Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view “is not based on reality.” “The continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again...easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,” he observed. He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and “sacrilegious misuse” who what Christians consider holy, as an example. All of these, the priest said, are examples “of not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.” Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion “is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.” “There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,” he said, noting that others argue “that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.” A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths. Still others “paradoxically” argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles “should be required at times to act against their conscience,” Camilleri said. These examples are all part of “what may rightly be called 'anti-Christian sentiment,'” and represent “a new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians...based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.” When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said. “Every right entails obligations and duties,” he said. “Therefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.” However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher “who respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church” is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are “uncomfortable” with what he has to say. “We must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,” he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, “free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.” Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as “the polite persecution of Christians” in many countries. “In the guise of 'political correctness,' Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,” the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its “legitimate role” in society “betrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.” Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole. The Church, he said, “does not pretend...to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world’s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.” What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole. Religion by its nature “is open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision” and a “horizon of fraternity” capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said. The Holy See, then, “is convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.” Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, “are an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.”","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk","og_description":"Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life. “To act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one's professional life has never been more threatened,” Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14. He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled “Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.” Religious freedom is the “litmus test” of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their “synthesis and keystone,” he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity. Pointing to the “barbaric persecution of Christians” happening in the Middle East, he said “the atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.” He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the “shadow of violent extremism and terrorism” in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place “at the very doorstep” of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna. “We must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,” he said. Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view “is not based on reality.” “The continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again...easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,” he observed. He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and “sacrilegious misuse” who what Christians consider holy, as an example. All of these, the priest said, are examples “of not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.” Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion “is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.” “There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,” he said, noting that others argue “that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.” A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths. Still others “paradoxically” argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles “should be required at times to act against their conscience,” Camilleri said. These examples are all part of “what may rightly be called 'anti-Christian sentiment,'” and represent “a new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians...based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.” When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said. “Every right entails obligations and duties,” he said. “Therefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.” However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher “who respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church” is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are “uncomfortable” with what he has to say. “We must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,” he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, “free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.” Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as “the polite persecution of Christians” in many countries. “In the guise of 'political correctness,' Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,” the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its “legitimate role” in society “betrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.” Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole. The Church, he said, “does not pretend...to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world’s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.” What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole. Religion by its nature “is open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision” and a “horizon of fraternity” capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said. The Holy See, then, “is convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.” Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, “are an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.”","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/","og_site_name":"Catholic News","article_published_time":"2016-12-15T22:32:00+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/images\/St_Peters_Squre_Credit_Vladimir_Sazonov_Shutterstock_CNA.jpg"}],"author":"CNA Daily News","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"CNA Daily News","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/","name":"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website"},"datePublished":"2016-12-15T22:32:00+00:00","dateModified":"2016-12-15T22:32:00+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1"},"description":"Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 \/ 03:32 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life. “To act and speak out publicly as a committed Christian in one's professional life has never been more threatened,” Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-secretary for relations with the States, said Dec. 14. He gave the keynote address at the opening of daylong conference hosted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna titled “Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: A Regional Perspective.” Religious freedom is the “litmus test” of respect for all other fundamental human rights, since it is their “synthesis and keystone,” he said, adding that safeguarding this freedom ensures that other rights will also be guaranteed to all people, regardless of belief, since it involves consciousness and dignity. Pointing to the “barbaric persecution of Christians” happening in the Middle East, he said “the atrocities committed against Christians in Syria and Iraq are so horrific that words cannot adequately respond, and their plight must not be forgotten.” He referred to the gruesome bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo Sunday that killed at least 25, saying it offers proof of the “shadow of violent extremism and terrorism” in the country. Yet, he also cautioned that such persecution is also taking place “at the very doorstep” of the OSCE headquarters in Vienna. “We must recognize that discrimination and intolerance, including hate crimes, impact many Christians and Christian communities, despite a frequently encountered notion that in this part of the world such discrimination or intolerance does not occur,” he said. Simply belonging to the majority religion seems to exclude Christians from being considered victims of intolerance, Camilleri said, but stressed that such a view “is not based on reality.” “The continuous attacks against Christian churches and religious buildings, time and time again...easily disprove the notion that Christians do not suffer intolerance,” he observed. He referred to the many cases of premeditated acts of destruction against churches and religious spaces and symbols, including crosses and other Christian artifacts, as well as the theft and “sacrilegious misuse” who what Christians consider holy, as an example. All of these, the priest said, are examples “of not only disrespectful, but intolerant, and in most cases criminal acts committed with a bias motive.” Camilleri then pointed to new forms of intolerance popping up in Western nations. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he said that religion “is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.” “There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,” he said, noting that others argue “that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.” A recent example is the case of a priest who serves as chaplain of the cemetery in the Italian city of Cremona, who refrained from setting up the traditional Nativity scene for fear of offending Muslims and those of other faiths. Still others “paradoxically” argue with the intention of eliminating discrimination that Christians who have public profiles “should be required at times to act against their conscience,” Camilleri said. These examples are all part of “what may rightly be called 'anti-Christian sentiment,'” and represent “a new form of intolerance and discrimination against Christians...based on setting the freedom of religion or belief against some general notion of tolerance and nondiscrimination.” When it comes to tolerance and non-discrimination, these things should never be used or interpreted in a way that would restrict religious freedom or belief, he said. “Every right entails obligations and duties,” he said. “Therefore, a self-professed Christian cannot claim that freedom of religion or belief entitles him to call for violence against non-believers.” However, the same goes for the other side, Camilleri said, explaining that a Christian preacher “who respectfully and faithfully teaches the religious or moral tenets of his Church” is still protected by freedom of religion, even if the majority of people are “uncomfortable” with what he has to say. “We must raise awareness of discrimination against Christians even in regions where international public opinion would normally not expect this to exist,” he said, adding that Christians, as well as others, must be allowed to express their religious identity publicly, “free from any pressure to hide or disguise it.” Any discomfort or opposition the public role of religion, he said, is what Pope Francis has referred to as “the polite persecution of Christians” in many countries. “In the guise of 'political correctness,' Christian faith and morals are considered to be hostile and offensive, and therefore, something to be removed from public discourse,” the priest noted, stressing that this fear of Christianity playing its “legitimate role” in society “betrays a reductionist view or approach to the freedom of religion or belief, confining it merely to the freedom of worship.” Despite challenges intolerance brings, Camilleri stressed that religion, Christianity included, has an endless capacity for good, not only for individuals and communities, but for society as a whole. The Church, he said, “does not pretend...to substitute for politics. Nor does the Church claim to offer technical solutions to the world’s problems since the responsibility of doing that belongs elsewhere.” What religion does, then, is offer specific guidelines to both the community of believers, and to society as a whole. Religion by its nature “is open to a larger reality and thus it can lead people and institutions toward a more universal vision” and a “horizon of fraternity” capable of enriching humanity, Camilleri said. The Holy See, then, “is convinced that for both individuals and communities the dimension of belief can foster respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, support democracy and rule of law and contribute to the quest for truth and justice.” Dialogue and partnerships between religions and with religions, he said, “are an important means to promote confidence, trust, reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding as well as to foster peace.”","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/12\/vatican-official-religion-in-public-has-never-been-more-at-risk\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/","name":"Catholic News","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1","name":"CNA Daily News","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"CNA Daily News"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/author\/cna-daily-news\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1031"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17399\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}