Religious freedom is threatened not only by governments that discriminate against faith groups but by a new “secular fundamentalism” in which public expressions of faith are ridiculed, Denver Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput said Thursday.
Chaput’s remarks were given in Cordoba, Spain, before representatives of 55 countries on the second day of a two-day conference on anti-Semitism and religious tolerance sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The Bush administration appointed the Denver prelate to the U.S. delegation, which was chaired by New York Gov. George Pataki.
Chaput said several nations that sent delegates to the meeting are blocking some congregations from obtaining legal status, which he said amounts to state-sponsored discrimination. He did not single out any countries.
Chaput said an equally dangerous trend has evolved in nations where public expressions of religious faith often seem to be ridiculed as fundamentalism.
“Out of fear of religious fundamentalism, a new kind of secular fundamentalism may be coerced on public institutions and political discourse,” he said.
Chaput said he hoped participating nations would discourage all forms of religious intolerance, “including any disrespect for Europe’s own Christian roots.” The proposed European Union constitution has been criticized in some circles for failing to mention the continent’s Christian roots and identity.
Chaput also sounded a familiar theme for him: that democracy depends on religious believers and nonbelievers taking an active role in public life.
“Public debate without a free and welcoming role for religious faith does not produce diversity or pluralism,” he said. “It can easily do the opposite. It can create politics without morality and public institutions without enduring ideals.”
