Pope asks Mexican government to guarantee religious freedom

Published: 2004-02-24

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II called on the Mexican government to guarantee people's right to religious freedom and prevent intolerance and discrimination, especially against the Catholic Church. His appeal came in an address to the new Mexican ambassador to the Holy See, Javier Moctezuma Barragan, who presented his credentials to the pope Feb. 24. The pope said, "It is to be hoped that the church in Mexico will be able to enjoy full freedom in all areas where she develops her pastoral and social mission." He warned against "an erroneous understanding" of the separation of church and state that would "reduce religion to a merely private sphere for the individual." He said the lay character of the state instead should "recognize the church's right to teach her doctrine and to give moral judgments about matters that affect the social order."

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