Nuncio says religious groups have right to participate in public life

Published: 2004-10-27

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- The Vatican's U.N. nuncio Oct. 26 called for the international community to recognize that religious freedom includes the right of religious groups to participate in public life as well as the right of individuals to freedom of conscience. "The attitude of those who would like to confine religious expression to the merely private sphere ignores and denies the nature of authentic religious convictions," said Archbishop Celestino Migliore. Legal structures ought to "foster the contribution of believers to the common good of society" rather than seek to restrict it, he said. The nuncio made his comments in a statement to a committee of the U.N. General Assembly reviewing questions of human rights. Religious groups ought to be allowed to work in social, educational and humanitarian fields, and to do so while remaining religiously distinct, he said. He said enabling them to operate in an openly religious way would enrich "a genuine culture of pluralism" and provide much needed services to the poor, the vulnerable and the needy.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .