EUROPE/BELGIUM - COMECE prepares Memorandum on religious persecution and makes appeal to EU institutions to safeguard religious freedom

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Brussels (Agenzia Fides) - The COMECE (Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community) Secretariat welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of a Resolution condemning recent attacks on Christian communities in Egypt and Malaysia, recalling the resolution adopted by the Council of Ministers of the EU in November 2009, which reaffirmed "the strong commitment of the European Union to the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief,” and considering it a priority among its human rights policies. The COMECE recalls the fact that 75% to 85% of all the religious persecution in the world is directed towards people of Christian faith.
On the basis of these two firm statements by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, COMECE calls upon the EU High Representative for External Relations, Baroness Catherine Ashton, to translate this priority into action. The Bishops of the COMECE have set up an expert group tasked with the drafting of a Memorandum on the promotion of freedom of religion. The text reports on violations of this fundamental right - and indeed of persecutions - in this field worldwide and puts forward a series of recommendations to EU institutions and is planned to be adopted by the COMECE Bishops on the occasion of their next plenary Assembly (14-16 April 2010). (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 27/01/2010)


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