Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See’s permanent observer at the Geneva offices of the United Nations, spoke with Vatican Radio last week about what he considers a dangerous trend for the West.
«Religion is seen as something antiquated that impedes development and scientific progress,» he said. «There are still many officials — including in the European Union — and groups and currents of thought that see in religion an obstacle for modernity.»
Archbishop Tomasi observed that this attitude «incites discrimination against the majority of the believing population.»
«It seems to me that a Western public culture that ridicules religion does not render a good service, but creates problems for its future,» he said.
The prelate reaffirmed «the right of the person to religious liberty» and lamented that Christians today are «the most discriminated» against.
He referred to the defense of religious liberty and reminded that «the international community must assume responsibility, treating these questions in a systematic way.»
The archbishop also recalled the importance of the media and education, avoiding, for example, textbooks «that support fundamentalist positions or incite hatred of other religions.»
