Religious tolerance essential to Europe, Vatican official says

Published: 2003-12-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Religious identity and religious freedom must be respected in order for the ideals of tolerance and nondiscrimination to function in European society, a Vatican official said. Msgr. Pietro Parolin, a top official of the Secretariat of State, made the remarks Dec. 2 at a meeting in Maastricht, the Netherlands, of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Msgr. Parolin lauded the organization's efforts to curb racism, xenophobia and discrimination on the continent, and said the church fully supports efforts to reduce intolerance through education and other methods. He cited a 1988 speech of Pope John Paul II, who condemned "any form of anti-Semitism and racism, which are contrary to the very foundation of Christianity and are completely unjustifiable in the cultures connected to Christianity." The 55-member OSCE is Europe's largest security organization, and engages in observer and reconstruction missions in several East European countries.

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