Archbishop Jose Martin Rabago of Leon, Mexico recently reflected on
the necessity of religious freedom.
As he recalled Pope Benedict XVI's
message for the World Day of Peace, the archbishop noted that religious
freedom is the foundation for all other rights a society needs in order
to live in justice.
Archbishop Rabago asserted that without religious freedom “it is not
possible to create a just society, and consequently, establish authentic
and stable peace for the entire human family,” reported the Mexican
bishops' conference.
The archbishop then underscored the need for the freedom of education
that ensures parents can decide what they wish their children to be
taught, even in public schools. The imposition of religious education by
any church, or of anti-religious education, directly or indirectly, by
the government, would be a true injustice against religious freedom,” he
added.
Archbishop Rabago stressed that his comments were not meant to
encourage the establishing of a sectarian state but rather the
strengthening of the public dimension of religion, while at the same
time respecting the secular character of state institutions.
“For this reason,” he continued, “the state must be more tolerant and
welcoming. In modern nations no religious confession is established as
the state religion. However, neutrality does not prevent cooperation.
Public officials should exercise their right to religious freedom by
expressing their own religious convictions,” the archbishop said.
He noted the timeliness of the Pope’s message, especially given the
violence that is spreading across Mexico.
The archbishop said that the
building of peace “requires that the human rights of every citizen be
recognized and respected and that the State create appropriate
conditions for them to be properly exercised.”
“In this moment of grave violence our country is experiencing, there
is a universal clamor for peace. We must not be confused about the
paths that will lead us to an authentic peace,” he concluded.
SIC: CNA/INT'L