Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI in a message published Thursday, urged greater freedom of faith around the world, and said Christians are the group which suffers most due to religious persecution.
Benedict's compiled the message for the Catholic church's 44th World Day of Peace which falls on January 1, 2011. The theme is: Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace.
"Sadly, the year now ending (2010) has again been marked by persecution, discrimination, terrible acts of violence and religious intolerance," Benedict said.
"At present, Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith," he added
Benedict cited the "beloved country of Iraq" as an example of a "theatre of violence and strife as it makes its way towards a future of stability and reconciliation."
In particular the pontiff referred to "reprehensible" October 31 terrorist attack against a Syro-Catholic cathedral in Baghdad during a holy mass celebration. Over 50 people, including two priests, were killed in the attack.
Benedict also referred to state repression and legal systems that failed to guarantee religious rights.
"It is painful to think that in some areas of the world it is impossible to profess one's religion freely except at the risk of life and personal liberty," the pontiff said.
In some areas "we see more subtle and sophisticated forms of prejudice and hostility towards believers and religious symbols," Benedict said.
Commenting on the pontiff's remarks, the Vatican's top official on social justice issues, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, cited examples that he said were a "denial" of the article contained in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights that enshrines religious freedom.
Turkson referred to a European Union Court of Human Rights decision in favour of a woman who had asked for the removal of a crucifix from a classroom wall.
The Vatican has criticised the court's ruling that crucifixes in Italian public schools are contrary to parents' right to educate their children in line with their convictions.
Turkson also mentioned cases of doctors who oppose abortion in line with Catholic church teachings, and are thus "denied a license because the will not terminate pregnancies."
The cardinal also referred to the "denial of aid packages to developing countries who object to aid conditions on religious-moral grounds."
(Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/358499,christians-group-suffers-persecution.html)
Benedict's compiled the message for the Catholic church's 44th World Day of Peace which falls on January 1, 2011. The theme is: Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace.
"Sadly, the year now ending (2010) has again been marked by persecution, discrimination, terrible acts of violence and religious intolerance," Benedict said.
"At present, Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith," he added
Benedict cited the "beloved country of Iraq" as an example of a "theatre of violence and strife as it makes its way towards a future of stability and reconciliation."
In particular the pontiff referred to "reprehensible" October 31 terrorist attack against a Syro-Catholic cathedral in Baghdad during a holy mass celebration. Over 50 people, including two priests, were killed in the attack.
Benedict also referred to state repression and legal systems that failed to guarantee religious rights.
"It is painful to think that in some areas of the world it is impossible to profess one's religion freely except at the risk of life and personal liberty," the pontiff said.
In some areas "we see more subtle and sophisticated forms of prejudice and hostility towards believers and religious symbols," Benedict said.
Commenting on the pontiff's remarks, the Vatican's top official on social justice issues, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, cited examples that he said were a "denial" of the article contained in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights that enshrines religious freedom.
Turkson referred to a European Union Court of Human Rights decision in favour of a woman who had asked for the removal of a crucifix from a classroom wall.
The Vatican has criticised the court's ruling that crucifixes in Italian public schools are contrary to parents' right to educate their children in line with their convictions.
Turkson also mentioned cases of doctors who oppose abortion in line with Catholic church teachings, and are thus "denied a license because the will not terminate pregnancies."
The cardinal also referred to the "denial of aid packages to developing countries who object to aid conditions on religious-moral grounds."
(Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/358499,christians-group-suffers-persecution.html)