Bishop Hector Miguel Cabrejos, President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PERUVIAN BISHOPS ON THE ADOPTION BILL OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
http://www.iglesia.org.pe/declaracion_020709_mons_cabrejos.htm
The Catholic Church is the first to defend and promote religious freedom. It's good to remember that it was the Peruvian Episcopal Conference which proposed the principle of religious freedom was enshrined in the Constitution of 1979 and as recognized by the present Constitution.
Article 2 of the Constitution of Peru states that no one should be discriminated against religion and Article 3 states that everyone has the right to freedom of religion, either individually or in combination and the free public exercise of all denominations, where does not offend public order and morality.
Since the 1979 Constitution, the Peruvian State is secular and the Catholic Church established a relationship of independence and collaboration, as set out in Article 50 of our present constitution, the same which in turn provides that the State respects other faiths and can establish partnerships with ellas.Ante claim to use the term equality in the religious theme, it is important to stress prior to any legislation that religions are not equal, not like Christianity, Judaism and Islam, This does not mean to disparage anyone, but objectively verify the nature of each religion.
is important to the social roots of a confession of faith. The Catholic Church has more than 2.000 years and in Peru there is no doubt his participation in the historical, cultural and moral society, which distinguishes it necessarily in their relationship with the State regarding the relationships that it can establish with other denominations.
addition, the establishment of the state's relations with other religious denominations must take into account the legal stability of each response to the great diversity of them.
remember that relations between the Peruvian State and the Catholic Church are governed by the Agreement between the Holy See and the Peruvian government, which has to be a binding agreement internacional.Por law as expressed regret that within the framework of cooperation which must prevail in the Catholic Church's relationship with the State, on this issue the Parliament has not made official inquiries to the Peruvian Episcopal Conference.
This omission must be corrected taking into account individual rights also affect Catholic citizens in Peru are the great mayoría.Llama the attention of 16 members of the Constitutional Commission voted only 6.
I do not want to downplay the technical regulations must be implemented, but calls also notable that in the country having so many serious and urgent problems to solve, a group of Congressmen rush to seek approval of this law in Constitución.Hago Commission called for serenity and sanity so that from the parliament examined the most pressing demands upon the Peruvian society. An example of this are the events that are being developed in Chumbivilcas, province of Cusco.
Finally, I urge that this issue is being approached in a spirit of dialogue, respect for people and institutions and seeking first the good of the country.
Trujillo, July 2, 2009
+ HECTOR MIGUEL CABREJOS VIDARTE, OFM .
Archbishop of Trujillo President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference
Source: State Lay - Peru
Before President Bill Episcopal Peru recalls that religious freedom exists
Strange that among so many pressing parliament to legislate in religious matters, says
LIMA, July 3, 1909 / 11:59 a.m. (ACI )
http://www.aciprensa.com/noticia.php?n=25981
Bishop Hector Miguel Cabrejos, President of the Episcopal Conference
Peruvian President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference (SCLC) Rev. Héctor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, said the Church is the first to promote religious freedom and that is already protected by the current constitution, so strange among so many urgent problems facing the country, "a group of lawmakers rush to seek approval of this law in the Constitutional Commission."
Last Wednesday, the Constitutional Committee of Congress passed with a quorum of six-has 16 members, "a bill promoted mainly by evangelical representatives to regulate the religious freedom and equality in the country.
"I do not want to downplay the technical regulations must be implemented, but also calls attention in the country having so many serious and urgent problems to solve, a group of Congressmen rush to seek approval of this law in Committee on Constitution, "the President of the CEP.
The Archbishop of Trujillo also recalled that it was the bishops who "proposed the principle of religious freedom" referred to in the last two Constitutions and that since 1979 the Peruvian government is secular.
explained that the church-state relationship is of "independence and collaboration," covered by the Agreement signed between the Holy See and the Peruvian government, which has to be a binding agreement under international law. He added that the Peruvian Constitution also "provides that the State respects other denominations and may establish forms of collaboration with them."
In this regard, said that "the establishment of the state's relations with other religious denominations must take into account the legal stability of each response to the great diversity of them." Bishop
Cabrejos recalled the importance of taking into account "the social roots of a confession of faith" and that the Catholic Church has had and has an undoubted participation "in the historical, cultural and moral " of Peruvian society, that "necessarily different in their relationship with the State regarding the relationships that it can establish with the other denominations."
therefore regretted "that within the framework of cooperation which must prevail in the Catholic Church's relationship with the State Parliament on this issue has not made official inquiries to the Peruvian Episcopal Conference."
also clarified that "over the attempt to use the term equality in the religious theme, it is important to stress before any legislation, religions are not equal, not like Christianity, Judaism and Islam, which does not mean to disparage anyone, but objectively verify the nature of each religion. "
Mayor
debate the other hand, El Comercio newspaper in its editorial page, recalled that the present constitution guarantees religious freedom as requested by the project approved. "I do represent a change is the pretension of other faiths and denominations to receive subsidies and tax exemptions, such as to the Catholic Church, "he said.
But he said that" the special treatment of the Catholic Church is based not only on its established presence in the formation of the Peruvian culture and nation, that make the majority religion par excellence, but also a legal status related to a specific treaty between Peru and the Vatican State, the so-called concordat ".
therefore indicated that the project approved" in a controversial meeting quorum, deserves more public debate "and a careful analysis at the time of floor debate, especially to establish the requirements for a institution or NGO is considered a religious entity. This is because in recent years Peru has been the presence of numerous movements and sects supposedly religious, who could claim benefit from the new law for their purposes adjectives.
The newspaper said that "in a democratic pluralism and respect for human rights are fundamental building blocks" such as freedom of conscience , opinion and religious cults, "but also the recognition of the institutions that have contributed to the formation of the Peruvian and education, as the Catholic Church."
Source. Secular State - Peru
RELATED
SPES Foundation said in 2002:
Bill religious freedom and equality: Argentina
Foundation controversial anti-cult law claim of "religious freedom" in Argentina
http://www.aciprensa.com/notic2002/julio/notic1606.htm
BUENOS AIRES, July 16, 2002 (CNA) .- The Fundación SPES, the oldest and largest organization against cults in Argentina, yesterday issued a strong statement about the negative consequences that will bring the eventual final approval of the draft "law religious freedom "in the province of San Luis. The Foundation
Spes, "the first thing called attention is the absence of compelling reasons those who promote this project, "because" the legitimate freedom of religion is archiasegurada throughout the national territory by the National Constitution and international treaties in force. "
"I mean there is not a legislative void to fill, or situations of unjust coercion in religious matters requiring legislation to be eradicated."
A law that divides
According Spes, while the country's current situation requires "a special effort to strengthen civic harmony of the Argentine", the new law does nothing to add a new element of public discord, "and that" the only results that reach the enactment of a law of this nature, would be to strengthen and protect the development of 'new religious movements' that will swing this law as a victory against Catholic Church in one of the traditional provinces of our country. " According
Spes, "the letter and spirit of the draft notice the tendency to confuse religious freedom as absence of coercion in religious equality, so this project objectively tends to slow and gradually eliminate specific legal consequences the special status of Catholic Church in our legal system, an objective of all anti-Catholic sects.
