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Layout Final the International Religious Liberty Association THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ASSOCIATION LIBERTY RELIGIOUS THE INTERNATIONAL 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600, USA Fax: 301.680.6695 www.IRLA.org FIDES ET LIBERTAS 2001 International Religious Liberty Association (Printed in partnership with Liberty Magazine) 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600, United States of America Phone: +301.680.6683 - Fax: +301.680.6695 Email: [email protected] - Web site: www.IRLA.org Roland Minnerath (France) International Mario Niño (Colombia) Religious Liberty Robert Nixon, Association vice president (USA) Jan Paulsen (Norway) Leo Ranzolin (Brazil) Officers Donald Robinson, Denton Lotz, treasurer (USA) president 2001 (USA) Gunnar Stålsett, John Graz, vice president (Norway) secretary general (Switzerland) Staff Donald E Robinson, treasurer (USA) Viola R Hughes, Matthew A Bediako, communication/media relations asst. vice president (Ghana) (Malaysia) Eugene Hsu, Marilyn Riley, vice president (Hong Kong) administrative assistant (USA) Robert W Nixon, International vice president (USA) Representatives Gunnar Stålsett, vice president (Norway) Africa-Indian Ocean Region: Leo S Ranzolin, Jean Emmanuel Nlo Nlo (Abidjan, Côte vice president (Brazil) d’Ivoire) Jonathan Gallagher, Eastern Africa Region: deputy secretary general (Britain) N Moses Msimanga (Nairobi, Kenya) Euro-Africa Region: Board of Directors Maurice Verfaillie (Bern, Switzerland) Siloé Joao de Almeida (Brazil) Euro-Asia Region: Bert B Beach, Victor P Krushenitsky (Moscow, Russia) vice president (USA) Inter-American Region: Matthew Bediako, Mario Niño (CoralGables, Florida, USA) vice president (Ghana) North American Region: Lee Boothby (USA) Clarence E Hodges (Silver Spring, Ray Coombe (Australia) Maryland, USA) Rajmund Dabrowski, Northern Asia-Pacific Region: vice president (Poland) Tadaomi Shinmyo (Koyang, South Korea) W. Cole Durham, Jr. (USA) South American Region: Jonathan Gallagher, Siloé Joao de Almeida (Brasilia, Brazil) deputy secretary general (Britain) South Pacific Region: John Graz, Ray Coombe (Washroonga, New South secretary general (Switzerland) Wales, Australia) James D Standish, Southern Africa Region: assistant secretary general for legislative Velile S. Wakaba (Bloemfontein, Free affairs (Australia) State, South Africa) Clarence Hodges (USA) Southern Asia Region: Eugene Hsu, P.H. Lall (Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India) vice president (Hong Kong) Southern Asia-Pacific Region: Anatoly Krasikov (Russian Federation) Hiskia I Missah (Silang, Cavite, Victor Krushenitsky (Russian Philippines) Federation) Trans-European Region: Denton Lotz, XXXXXXXXXXX (St. Albans, president (USA) Hertfordshire, UK) Declaration of Principles We believe that religious liberty is a God-given right. We believe that legislation and other governmental acts which unite church and state are contrary to the best interests of both institutions and are poten- tially prejudicial to human rights, and hold that it is best exercised where sep- aration is maintained between church and state. We believe that government is divinely ordained to support and protect citi- zens in their employment of natural rights, and to rule in civil affairs; and that in so doing, government warrants respectful obedience and willing support. We believe in the natural and inalienable right of freedom of conscience – to have or not to have a religion; to adopt the religion or belief of one’s choice; to change religious belief according to conscience; to manifest one’s religion indi- vidually or in community with others, in worship, observance, practice, prom- ulgation and teaching – subject only to respect for the equivalent rights of oth- ers. We believe that religious liberty includes also the freedom to establish and operate appropriate charitable or educational institutions, to solicit or receive voluntary financial contributions, to observe days of rest and celebrate holi- days in accordance with the percepts of one’s religion, and to maintain com- munication with fellow believers at national and international levels. We believe that religious liberty and the elimination of intolerance and dis- crimination based on religion or belief are essential to promote understand- ing, peace and friendship among people. We believe that citizens should use lawful and honorable means to prevent the reduction of religious liberty, so that all may enjoy its inestimable blessing. We believe that the spirit of true religious liberty is epitomized in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. S tat e m e n t o f P u r p o s e s The purposes of the International Religious Liberty Association are universal and nonsectarian. 1 To disseminate the principles of religious liberty throughout the world. 2 To defend and safeguard the right of all people to worship, to adopt a reli- gion or belief of their choice, to manifest their religious convictions in observance, promulgation and teaching, subject only to the respect for the equivalent rights of others. 3 To support the right of religious organizations to operate in every country by their establishing and owning charitable or educational institutions. 4 To organize local, national, and regional chapters, and to conduct semi- nars, symposiums, conferences and congresses. Mission Statement The mission of the International Religious Liberty Association is to defend, protect and promote religious liberty for all people everywhere. F i d e s E t L i b e rtas T h e J o u r n a l o f t h e I n t e r n at i o nal R e l i g i o u s L i b e rt y A s s o c i at i o n 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600, USA Fax: 301.680.6695 www.IRLA.org John Graz, Publisher Phone: 301.680.6680 E-mail: [email protected] Jonathan Gallagher, Editor Phone: 301.680.6682 E-mail: [email protected] Viola R Hughes, Managing Editor/Production Manager Phone: 301.680.6683 E-mail: [email protected] Editorial Committee Jonathan Gallagher (Chair) Roy Adams, Bert B Beach, Rajmund Dabrowski, John Graz Clarence Hodges, Viola Hughes, Angel Rodriguez, Mitchell A Tyner Statements of fact in this issue of FIDES ET LIBERTAS are those of the authors as they understand the facts. The views expressed by the authors are their own and do not necessarily represent the International Religious Liberty Association. Copyright © 2001 International Religious Liberty Association. All rights reserved. Printed at House of Printing, Burtonsville, MD Price US$5. contents Jonathan gallagher AFTER TWENTY YEARS: The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief 10 W. Cole Durham, Jr. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS: The Protection of Religious Persuasion 17 Rosa maria martinez de codes THE FIGHT AGAINST DESCRIMINATION IN WESTERN EUROPE 32 REINDER BRUINSMA RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE 45 Silvio ferrari THE WESTERN EUROPEAN MODEL OF CHURCH AND STATE RELATIONS 55 JOHN GRAZ SECTS: France Versus U.S.A. 64 Jonathan gallagher THE HIJACKING OF RELIGION: How Religious Beliefs Are Exploited for Political and Secular Ends and the Consequences for Religious Liberty 72 Bert b. beach PROSELYTISM IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION, RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND NONDISCRIMINATION 78 MITCHELL A. TYNER INTERNATIONAL PROVISION FOR PROSELYTISM: The United States 89 walter sawatsky THE SCHOLARLY DEBATE OVER PROSELYTISM 97 After Twent y Years: The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief J o nat h a n G a l l a g h e r Deputy Secretary General, International Religious Liberty Association I n t r o d u c t i o n On 25 November 1981, The United Nations General Assembly promulgat- ed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief—a lengthy catch-all title for a Declaration that was intended to be a milestone achievement in the develop- ment of religious liberty and mutual toleration. (In fact it had taken almost twenty years to arrive at the final text of the Declaration.) The 1981 Declaration set out in clear terms the expectations required of signatories–and amplified the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its primary provisions are for complete religious freedom, non-discrimi- nation on religious grounds, and the rejection of religious-based intolerance. In explicit language, countries adopting the Declaration agree to adopt and support such provisions, and agree to work for the elimination of religious intolerance and discrimination. At the time of the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration, we are entitled to question its impact and effectiveness. D i s c l a i m e r S First, it cannot be expected that any declaration in and of itself can trans- form world society. The 1981 Declaration is an expression of expectations and ideals to be strived for. However, it does provide a baseline by which the actions of states parties can be judged. Secondly, compliance with the Declaration is monitored by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, along with the special rapporteur on Religious Intolerance. The reports of the Commission are, therefore, a commentary on the success or otherwise of the Declaration. 10 Fides et Libertas the Journal of the International Religious Liberty Association Thirdly, the Declaration has no force of law; its provisions are the agreed- upon standards, not a mandatory legal framework. Have religious
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