On Monday, October 27, the United States observes International Religious Freedom Day to commemorate the signing of the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998.
“Let us stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering, and let us resolve to do our part to promote religious freedom for all people around the world,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty in a statement. They called attention to the repression and persecution of religion as being detrimental to peace:
“Across the world, millions of people are denied the basic right to religious freedom, a denial that fuels violent conflict and hinders human development. … We have seen that repression and persecution of religion is ultimately detrimental to the peaceful development of all nations. Religious freedom fosters peace. Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV said recently that a culture of peace requires full respect for religious freedom in every country, since religious experience is an essential dimension of the human person.”
Click here to read the full statement.