EDITORIAL

Another Assault on Religious Freedom

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Last week, Martin Castro, chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, blatantly insulted all those who desire to protect their religious freedom. In his report Castro wrote, “The phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance.”

Castro’s comments were not simply insulting. Because they came from a government official, they should be considered a threat to all who believe in the free exercise of religion: the freedom to live in accordance with one’s faith outside of one’s home and one’s church.

Archbishop William Lori, chairman of the Bishop’s Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, rightly labeled Castro’s statement as reckless. Such a sweeping generality from the chairman belies his own discrimination and prejudice towards people of faith. In his attempt to label intolerance, he reveals his own intolerance. It is clear that Castro sees people of all faiths as a threat his own agenda. But how can he fail to see the contradiction of his own remarks and sentiments? He feigns to protect people’s freedoms by attacking the freedoms of others.

Archbishop Lori states, “The vast majority of those who speak up for religious liberty are merely asking for the freedom to serve others as our faith asks of us.” We respect the dignity of each person, even though we might disagree with them. All that we ask of Chairman Castro and his minions is that they give us the same respect to live according to our religious principles and conviction.