Vatican representative calls for effective laws to protect religion

Published: 2005-06-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Europe needs effective laws to protect religious groups from being misrepresented or ridiculed in the media, said a Vatican representative at a conference on anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance. "Intolerance and discrimination against Christians and members of other religions are worrying phenomena which must be faced with the same determination with which anti-Semitism and discrimination against Muslims are being fought," said Archbishop Antonio Canizares Llovera of Toledo, Spain. The archbishop led the Vatican delegation to the June 8-9 conference in Cordoba, Spain, sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The conference focused on efforts by the 55 participating governments, including the Vatican, to fight discrimination and intolerance of Jews, Christians, Muslims and members of other religions. The Vatican released the text of Archbishop Canizares' remarks June 14.

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