Policy & Advocacy
Backgrounder on Religious Freedom, February 2012
Backgrounder on Religious Freedom, February 2012
Rising Global Attacks on Minorities: Late-2011 and early-2012 incidents illustrate a surge in violence against Christians and other faith minorities
- Christmas church bombing in Nigeria killed 37 and wounded 57
- January arson and attempted church takeover of Copts in Egypt
- Targeted assaults on Iraqi Christians following U.S. withdrawal
- Demolition of a 100-year-old Catholic center in Pakistan
- Arrests of underground clergy and priests in China
Papal Emphasis on Religious Freedom
- Pope Benedict XVI declared Christians the most persecuted religious group today and made religious freedom the theme of his 2011 World Day of Peace message and 2012 address to the Diplomatic Corps
- He warned that religion must never be a pretext for injustice or violence
- A 2009 Pew study found 64 countries (70% of the world’s population) impose high or very high government or social barriers on religion
- Government restrictions: mandatory registration, fines, bans on conversion, limits on foreign missionaries, favoritism of majority faiths
- Social hostilities: harassment over dress/practice, vandalism, vigilante attacks, murders
- Only 27% of nations fully respect constitutional religious-freedom guarantees
- Minority faith communities are often perceived as cultural, economic, or political threats
- Extremist groups, political parties, and even states exploit religious identity for power, scapegoating, or social control
- Conflicts over land, resources, and ethnic difference frequently take on religious dimensions
USCCB Policy and Advocacy: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops consistently:
- Condemns persecution of Christians and all faith minorities
- Appeals to U.S. executive and legislative branches to press foreign governments to protect religious rights
- Coordinates with local bishops’ conferences to ensure solidarity efforts are helpful and welcomed
- Echoes Pope Benedict’s teaching that religious freedom is fundamental to peace
The USCCB urges Catholics to contact Congress and the Administration, urging that:
- Religious freedom be upheld as a clear U.S. policy priority.
- The State Department and USCIRF be fully empowered and funded to monitor abuses.
- U.S. diplomacy pressures governments to end legal and social persecution of all faith communities.