Hilary Clinton Describes Freedom of Religion
At the presentation of the US State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2010, Hilary Clinton gives a useful description of religious freedom.
Launching the report, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said religious freedom is “both a fundamental human right and an essential element to any stable, peaceful, thriving society”. Mrs Clinton also said religious freedom “begins with private beliefs and communal religious expression, but doesn’t end there”. She said it includes “the right to raise one’s children in one’s faith, to share one’s faith peacefully with others, to publish religious materials without censorship, to change one’s religion – by choice, not coercion, and to practice no religion at all”. Mrs Clinton also hit out at moves to ban controversial speech, saying that attempts to “stifle” or drive underground a “diversity of ideas” are wrong. She said: “Societies in which freedom of religion and speech flourish are more resilient, more stable, more peaceful, and more productive.” View video of Clinton's remarks at http://www.christian.org.uk/news/video-us-govt-notes-uk-christians-get-rough-ride/?e191110 The report mentions the restrictions Christians face in the UK http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2010/148995.htm View the full report at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2010/index.htm