December 11, 2012. (Romereports.com) The Vatican foreign minister staunchly defended freedom of expression and religion, but also rebuked several countries at the conference for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Dublin, for failing to do more to protect Christians from persecution.
Msgr. Dominque Mamberti told the group's 56 other members from the Northern Hemisphere that the Vatican supports the OSCE's objective to fight for human rights. But he added that they are especially keen on safeguarding the right to worship freely.
MSGR. DOMINIQUE MAMBERTI
Secretary for Relations with States (Vatican)
“With the increase of religious intolerance throughout the world, it is well documented that Christians are among those most discriminated against, even within the OSCE region. In fact, in some participating states intolerant and even discriminatory laws, decisions and behavior, which deny this freedom, still exist against the Catholic Church and other Christian communities.”
During the meeting of the council of ministers, Mamberti went on to say that Christians are in need of protection, not only from persecution in totalitarian regimes, but also in more advanced democracies, where they have become a minority as in today's predominantly secular societies in the West.
MSGR. DOMINIQUE MAMBERTI
Secretary for Relations with States (Vatican)
“The rights associated with religion are all the more in need of protection if they are considered to clash with a prevailing secular ideology or with majority religious positions of an exclusive nature.”
But, the Vatican statesman also used his time at the microphone to address other arguments such as good governance, as well as a defense of a “culture of life.”
Mamberti concluded his speech by saying that Vatican City is committed to working with all countries to ensure the group achieves peace and security among its members.
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