Callista Gingrich, U.S. ambassador to the
Holy See, provided the following commentary to Catholic News Service. She wrote
it in connection with the release May 29 of the 2017 International Religious
Freedom Report and the announcement at the U.S. State Department about a
top-level consultation that will take place in July on promoting religious
freedom:
Persecution, violence and discrimination are daily realities for
millions of believers in nearly every region of the world. Their human rights
are limited or restricted entirely.
Religious understanding and tolerance are bulwarks against the
forces of extremism — they are the necessary foundations of peace and security
around the world. The United States advocates for religious freedom at home and
abroad. Protecting and defending this integral human right — to worship freely —
is fundamental to who we are as a people and as a nation.
A year after he penned the Declaration of Independence in 1776,
Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom that
"Almighty God hath created the mind free." Any act limiting or
discriminating against a person's freedom of faith is an "infringement of
natural right." The right to worship freely is America's first freedom. It
was codified in the First Amendment to our Constitution, which begins,
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
As stated in the U.S. National Security Strategy, "Our
Founders understood religious freedom not as the state's creation, but as the
gift of God to every person and a fundamental right for our flourishing
society." Our indivisible and common fidelity to this right endures to
this day. President Donald Trump has made clear that the protection and
promotion of religious freedom is a top foreign policy priority for the United
States.
Beyond the moral imperative for every country to safeguard
religious freedom, history has shown that promoting this right is a matter of
national security and global stability. Simply put, governments and societies
that champion the right of religious freedom are safer, more prosperous and
secure.
Protecting religious freedom is one of the top priorities of our
diplomatic relationship with the Holy See. The United States and the Holy See
wholeheartedly agree that religious freedom is a universal right. Our embassy
works closely with the Vatican to support not just Christian minorities, but
all religious minorities who are persecuted simply for professing their faith.
The Vatican has a long history of encouraging religious freedom
and tolerance through interreligious dialogue. After Pope Francis' visit to
Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh, he professed that the church "won't close
(its) hearts or look away" from the plight of the Rohingya. During his
visit to Egypt, Pope Francis called on humanity not to hold entire religions
"accountable for the crimes of any small group of followers." And in
a recent message to Muslims for the end of Ramadan, the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue called on both faiths to move from competition to
collaboration.
America's proud heritage of protecting and promoting
international religious freedom is equally committed. The U.S. Department of
State invests $20 million-$25 million annually in foreign assistance programs
designed to promote religious freedom. The International Religious Freedom Act
of 1998, which created an ambassador-at-large for international religious
freedom within the Department of State, ensures that the United States actively
protects this universal right.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador-at-Large Sam
Brownback launched the 2017 International Religious Freedom Report May 29,
detailing the status of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and
territories, and documenting reports of violations and abuses committed by
governments, terrorist groups and individuals.
As the report shows, no religious community is immune from
repression and discrimination. Christian pastors and Baha'is are jailed in Iran
— at least 20 individuals were executed there in 2017 for exercising their
right to worship freely. Authorities in Russia continue to target peaceful
religious adherents. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are imprisoned in Egypt.
Minority groups such as Ahmadi Muslims and others are persecuted in Pakistan.
Incidents of anti-Semitism are on the rise globally. Religious beliefs and
activities are controlled and restricted in China. The Rohingya in Burma
continue to face violence and discrimination. And Christians, Shia Muslims and
Yezidis in the Middle East continue to suffer from the genocidal acts
perpetuated by ISIS.
The report also illustrates the important steps taken by the
United States, under President Trump's leadership, in advocating for religious
freedom both domestically and globally. Yet clearly, there is more to be done.
Secretary Pompeo also announced that the U.S. State Department
will convene the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom July 25-26
in Washington. The ministerial will bring together nations and faith leaders
committed to promoting fully Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, codifying the universal "right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion."
This ministerial, the first hosted by Secretary Pompeo, will be
geared not merely toward discussion, but action. We look forward to working
with our friends and allies on identifying concrete ways to secure and respect
religious freedom for all.
The 2017 International Religious Freedom Report and the
Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom underscore America's enduring
commitment to this cause. Only by working together can governments, faith
leaders and individuals safeguard this basic human right for all those seeking
to live their lives freely and in accordance with their faith.