"If we disregard the moral rules said Patriarch Alexius II to the MEPs , we also disregard freedom. Morality is freedom in action. It is a freedom that is brought into reality as the result of a responsible choice in which the human person limits itself for the good of others and the good of society". In his speech, the Patriarch also made reference to the terrorist threat. "As we know very well he said , Europe and the whole world are now threatened by extremists and terrorists, many of whom wear religious masks. These destructive forces grow on the fields of religious ignorance and immorality. For this reason, I strongly believe that the new generations must have access, if they want to, to in-depth studies on their religious traditions at school, as well as they need to learn about the other faiths as a basis for peaceful cohabitation". Then, an invitation to dialogue. "To avoid contrasts between the different views of the world concluded the Patriarch , we badly need a serious dialogue between cultures, in which the representatives of the religious traditions and secular culture should be proactively involved. I think the Council of Europe, which is a place of dialogue between the European values, can become an excellent forum in which such dialogue can take place".
