Uprooting all forms of intolerance

Intolerance has gained momentum in secularized societies that tend to exclude Christians and their beliefs. Faith is seen as “unreasonable, thereby granting its legitimate profession only in the private sphere”. The 2013 Report, published recently by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe – an NGO based in Vienna, consultant to the Agency for Fundamental Rights of the EU – highlighted the problem of human choices and of belief, in the light of difficult situations experienced by believers. Massimo Lavena, for SIR Europe, delved into the problem with Gudrun Kugler, Austrian, chairman of the organization performing the study. What could be the causes of intolerance towards Christians? “Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world today. Every five minutes a Christian dies because of his faith. Most of the young girls abducted in Nigeria are Christian, and they were forced to convert to Islam. In Europe social exclusion is increasing, along with widespread vandalism against Christian religious sites and severe intolerance against the opinions expressed in public by Christians. Increased legal restrictions negatively affect the free exercise of religious freedom of Christians, there are limitation to conscientious objection (for example in the case of abortion of marriage celebrated between same-gender couples), parenthood rights, freedom of speech, religious symbols… We must speak about the problem to raise awareness and seek solutions. The most important principle that could solve the problem is a ‘reasonable compromise’, namely, to make room for coexistence and give a voice to everyone, Christians included”. How can we give renewed thrust to Christians’ social and political presence? “Professor Joseph Weiler, a Jew born in South Africa, law professor in New York, wrote a book on ‘Christian Europe’, in which he claims that European Christians are living in a twofold ghetto in which they were placed by secularized Europe, and once inside the ghetto they rapidly built a second wall to feel truly ‘safe’. It’s time to abandon the ghetto. We have enough reasons to have faith. Christianity has brought us civilization as we understand it today. Christianity makes a society human and a better place for all, for non-Christians too. Weiler said that in order to get out of the ghetto we need to start communicating the concept whereby faith is not relegated to the private sphere, it’s not separated from reason and that even what is mysterious and unexplainable is part of life. Last, but not least, he claims that he would like to see many baby carriages in front of the churches. Before becoming Pope, Josef Ratzinger said that Christians ought to become a creative minority in Europe. Christians have become a minority. Now it’s time to adopt the tools of creativity. I think that lay European Christians still have a lot to learn from this perspective”. Whence do recent episodes of vandalism and sacrilegious actions in many parts of Europe stem from? “Vandalism is a deep wound in the heart of Christian faithful. It means ‘you are the next one’ and it constitutes a latent threat, it creates fear. It’s important that the police and the authorities understand this dynamics and react in the most appropriate way. There is a widespread idea in Europe that Christianity is unacceptable because it pretends to say what is right. Many people think that Christian leaders don’t live up to what they preach, an idea that is supported by the media, which present a selective view of reality without providing the general picture. Moreover, there is an appeal to false human rights to limit authentic human rights, like when a supposed right to abortion circumscribes the freedom of conscience of doctors, defended by Christians”. What can the believers do to change or improve this situation? “In his speech at the German Bundestag, Pope Benedict invited European citizens to engage in a public debate on what is ‘ecologic’ for the human being. We have to work with the means we have at our disposition. As for questions regarding human rights, Christians ought to be present. In international institutions, Christians should be much more present and speak of their causes. Social media provide possibilities to all, also to believers, to become active and creative citizens that love Europe too much to leave it as it is. The secret lies in the possibility of being intensively involved, wherever we are, in any way, and pray for the effusion of the Holy Spirit”.