Benedict XVI is calling for fresh insights on the topic of religious freedom, noting how this fundamental human right was enshrined after the downfall of 20th-century totalitarianisms, but now again faces threats. The Pope made his appeal in an April 29 message to Mary Ann Glendon, president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, on the occasion of the academy's 17th plenary session.
Prof. Mary Ann Glendon (Harvard) at the 17th plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in Rome:
After a group of Catholics named “fundamentalists” by the media has smashed the controversial image of the Christ in urine called ‘Piss Christ’ shown at the Avignon Modern Art Exhibit, the French journalist Eric Zemmour takes stand to defend the reaction of Catholics on French radio RTL.
After accusations of bias against Christianity at the BBC, the BBC Trust Chairman Christopher Patten has underlined atheists' lack of tolerance towards Christians. Lord Patten, chancellor of the University of Oxford, former Governor of Hong Kong and former Cabinet minister said: «It is curious that atheists have proved to be so intolerant of those who have a faith».
There are sectors of society that might consider religion insignificant or even annoying, but that does not justify violating the fundamental right of religious liberty, Benedict XVI is affirming.
In an ironical essay, the French web journal 'Causeur' puts into light how the European Court, under the pretext of defending rights, really legalizes intolerance towards Christians and their religious opinions.
The Vatican representative Archbishop Silvano Tomas told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday that many who oppose homosexuality are being unjustly attacked for their views.
Joseph Weiler, a Jewish law professor at the New York University School of Law, represented the governments of Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, the Russian Federation and San Marino in the case.
The Government must reform the Public Order Act to protect freedom of speech, MPs have warned during a debate in Parliament. Edward Leigh MP insisted that the Bill should be used to remove the word “insulting” from Section 5 of the Public Order Act, and listed numerous examples of people whose free speech had been restricted by the existing law.