c. 1997 Religion News Service

(The Rev. Joan Brown Campbell is general secretary of the National Council of Churches, a cooperative organization of 33 U.S. Protestant and Orthodox denominations. She serves on the U.S. State Department’s Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad.)

UNDATED _ On July 22, the State Department issued its report examining constraints on religious freedom in 78 nations. We sincerely commend the department for bringing the issue of religious persecution to broad public attention.

While being a sustained concern of American churches for more than 50 years, the full scope of religious persecution has lacked this level of visibility. The report makes it clear: Those of many religious traditions, including Christians, have suffered and continue to suffer unjustly.

Too often we take our religious freedom in America for granted. The State Department’s report is a painful reminder of how blessed we are. In stark contrast to our nation _ where churches are tax exempt, clergy are held in high esteem and elected leaders regularly seek the counsel of their pastors and spiritual mentors _ some nations have made religious persecution an official policy. Others, while espousing tolerance, practice intolerance in ways unofficial and often hidden.

For half a century, religious liberty and human rights have been priorities of the National Council of Churches, the oldest and largest national ecumenical body in the United States.

But how will we respond to the State Department report on religious persecution?

First, we must reiterate our ongoing concern for Christian brothers and sisters and other people of faith who are persecuted for their religion.

Second, we affirm our confidence in the work of the State Department and its Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad. We believe the office charged with primary responsibility for addressing religious persecution should, if possible, be insulated from partisan political pressure and therefore oppose the proposal that those who monitor religious persecution should be appointed by Congress or located in the White House.

We also oppose separating religious persecution from other international human rights abuses. We believe the State Department is best situated to monitor and make recommendations on all human rights issues.

Third, we urge further dialogue among America’s various faith communities as to how to respond to any religious persecution around the world. Accusations and innuendo about one another’s motives have no place here. Conversations on religious persecution must be thoughtful, prayerful, and based on the assumption that each is seeking the best interests of all religious people around the world.

At the same time, we note with irony that even as we seek to protect religious freedom abroad, the Supreme Court, in striking down the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, has made it more likely violations of religious conscience can now occur in the United States. We believe the Court has put the nation’s first liberty at risk. As we move to develop policies to correct religious persecution abroad, we must also seek to be vigilant to defend religious freedom here at home.

It is a time for humility as well as concern about religious persecution.

Although we cherish the American model of religious liberty and its meaning for us, we recognize it is not the only model. Some of our most trusted friends in the world community worship and serve God in state churches. Others see toleration, rather than full freedom, as the touchstone for religious rights.

In short, due consideration must be given to cultural values and existing religious life, especially on such matters as world missions, proselytizing and areas of permissible government regulation.

We will listen to our partner churches throughout the world, and we will be guided by their experiences in their own settings.

In collaboration with those of other religious traditions and communities, including our partner churches throughout the world, we will continue to seek to end religious persecution wherever it occurs and to advocate religious liberty for all people because it is rooted in our faith.

These words of the psalmist express the universal human desire to worship and serve God freely:”How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord.”(Psalm 84.)

MJP END CAMPBELL