Charter on religious freedom rights released ahead of international summit

Religious freedom advocates released a charter declaring the right of every person around the world to freely believe -- or not believe -- religious tenets and join with others in a religious community and for believers and religious communities to live peacefully in society.

Titled "A Charter of Religious Freedom," the document was released in advance of the International Religious Freedom Summit planned for the nation's capital and online July 13-15.

The three-day summit will feature prominent religious leaders and religious freedom advocates in a series of speeches, discussions and programs focusing on the vital need to protect religious freedom globally.

Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Illinois, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, welcomed the summit in a June 9 statement.

"This summit is intended to raise awareness about international religious freedom within the United States and to bring together a broad coalition that will work together for the cause of religious freedom around the world," he said.

The committee is among the summit's sponsors and has over 40 organizations in convening the event. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the bishops' Committee for Religious Liberty, will deliver a keynote address during the summit.

The charter sets forth a series of statements outlining where the rights of the free exercise of religion originate, widespread challenges to religious freedom internationally, and how the guarantee of religious freedom can increase international justice, stability and peace.

It declares, "That every government, every religious community, and every political and civil society organization in the world should strive toward the goal of achieving freedom of religion and conscience, for everyone, everywhere -- protected by law and valued by culture.

Religious freedom, it continues, is to be understood by three "interconnected levels" of rights:

• "The right of every human being freely to believe in religious truths, or not to believe, uncoerced by any human authority, especially the state with its extraordinary powers."
• "The right to join with others in religious community, which also possesses religious freedom" including the right to build houses of worship, train clergy, establish religious schools, and develop and uphold religious doctrines."
• "The rights of believers and of religious communities to live and act peacefully, within civil and political society in accord with their religious beliefs."

The charter concludes by calling on leaders of nations, international organizations, religions, nongovernmental organizations, media organizations and policy and political entities to "begin now to adopt practical steps toward the goal of achieving religious freedom for everyone, everywhere."