Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Pope urges Pakistan to repeal anti-blasphemy law

Pakistan must repeal its anti-blasphemy law because it acts as a "pretext for acts of injustice and violence against religious minorities", the pope said Monday as he urged world leaders to ensure Christians are protected from attack and discrimination.

In an address devoted to religious freedom, Benedict XVI said the "tragic murder" of Salmaan Taseer, the Punjab governor who was killed for opposing legislation that imposes a death sentence for people who insult the prophet Muhammad, showed there was an "urgent need to make progress" in the abrogation of this law.

He told an audience of ambassadors assigned to the Holy See: "The particular influence of a given religion in a nation ought never to mean that citizens of another religion can be subject to discrimination in social life or, even worse, that violence against them can be tolerated.

"In this regard, it is important for interreligious dialogue to favour a common commitment to recognising and promoting the religious freedom of each person and community."

He also criticised countries such as Saudi Arabia, which curtails the worship of its million-plus Christian immigrant population by outlawing the public preaching and practise of non-Muslim religions.

"The right to religious freedom is not fully respected when only freedom of worship is guaranteed, and that with restrictions," he said.

"Furthermore, I encourage the accompaniment of the full safeguarding of religious freedom and other human rights by programmes which, beginning in primary school and within the context of religious instruction, will educate everyone to respect their brothers and sisters in humanity."

He added: "Regarding the states of the Arabian peninsula, where numerous Christian immigrant workers live, I hope that the Catholic church will be able to establish suitable pastoral structures."

He reiterated his alarm at the escalating persecution of Christians in the Middle East and Nigeria – a concern he shares with other religious leaders – while also taking aim at the west for marginalising Christianity through "the banning of religious feasts and symbols from civic life under the guise of respect for members of other religions or those who are not believers".

Not only was the right of believers to the public expression of their faith restricted, but an attack was made on the cultural roots that nourished "the profound identity and social cohesion of many nations", he told the assembled diplomats.

He commended the Council of Europe for granting doctors and nurses the right to exercise conscientious objection concerning abortion, and praised those European countries that joined Italy's fight to keep crucifixes displayed in public places.

SIC: TG/UK