US bishops urge Senate to renew US religious freedom commission

October 31, 2011

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging the Senate to reauthorize the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which will cease to exist on November 18 without Senate action.

“Ongoing attacks against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East and in other parts of the world point to the need to pay more, not less, attention to religious freedom,” said Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, chairman of the USCCB committee on international justice and peace. “Violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt, the Christmas Eve bombings of Christian churches in Nigeria, last October’s attack on worshipers at the Syrian Catholic Church in Baghdad, and other heinous acts are grim reminders of what is at stake.”

“Abolition of this body would send an unintended message to the rest of the world,” he added. “Oppressive groups may come to believe that the United States is not committed to the protection of religious liberty.”

 

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Further information:

• Bishops Call For Renewal of International Religious Freedom Commission (USCCB)
• Senate may kill US religious freedom commission (CWN, 10/19)