VZCZCXRO0821
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHROV #0098/01 1711559
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201559Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0748
INFO RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0778

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000098 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE LARREA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KIRF VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN-AFFILIATED NGO ADDRESSES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
 
 
¶1. (U) This cable is being resent due to an error found with 
EACT MailReader. 
 
 
 
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Summary 
 
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¶2. (U) The U.S.-based Acton Institute, an NGO with significant 
ties to the Vatican, explored issues related to religious 
freedom during a March conference in Rome (for information on 
the organization and/or transcripts from the conference see 
http://www.acton.org/ital/).  Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz, 
former president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative 
Texts, addressed the universal concept of the human person, 
his/her right to religious freedom, and the universal standards 
needed to promote inter-religious dialogue.  Raphaela Schmid of 
the Pontifical Gregorian University focused on China's 
relationship with the Catholic Church, drawing from what she had 
seen while filming a television documentary on religious freedom 
in China.  Fr. Bernardo Cervellera, China expert and editor of 
the Vatican-affiliated Asia News Service, was quick to point out 
that religious freedom and other freedoms do, in fact, exist in 
China, to some extent.  He said that religious freedom and 
Christianity is in fact necessary for the development of the 
Chinese economy.  Fr. Cervellera also made reference to the 
problem of Hindu nationalism in India, to Islamic-Christian 
relations, and to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.  End 
summary. 
 
 
 
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True Participation in the Life of State 
 
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¶3. (U) Cardinal Julian Herranz referred to the Declaration of 
Human Rights (DHR) as he appealed for a respect for the rights 
of all people.  He noted attention to inalienable rights, 
freedom, justice, and peace in the world.  Herranz took Article 
18 of the DHR to mean that every person has a right to freedom 
of thought, teaching, practice, and observance.  The person is 
ultimately the foundation of society.  He said that Sharia 
Islamic law, however, inflicts the death penalty on those who 
profess non-Islamic religion, such as in Saudi Arabia.  When 
believers feel they are respected in faith, they truly 
participate in the life of state.  Inter-religious dialogue can 
only take place when there is a mutual respect between both 
parties.  This respect also serves to discourage terrorist 
tendencies. 
 
 
 
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The Rejection of Accommodation to State 
 
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¶4. (U) Raphaela Schmid is the Rome director of an NGO focused on 
religious freedom, in addition to her duties at the Gregorian 
University.  She said that with the Chinese authorities 
gradually accepting more religious activity, secularism and 
atheism are not the factors in Chinese society that they once 
were.  Significant barriers to religious freedom, however, 
remain.  According to Schmid, the Holy See cannot let setbacks 
take place without calling attention to them.  She cited the 
illicit episcopal appointments of 2006 as an example.  She 
argued that the Holy See needs to stand up to the state and not 
simply accommodate itself to such policies.  At the same time, 
the Chinese Catholic Church, both underground and official, 
needs to make its teachings accessible so that it will be 
relevant to society. 
 
 
 
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The Global Presence of Christians 
 
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VATICAN 00000098  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) Cervellera argued against Schmid's "pessimistic outlook" 
on China, insisting that the outlook for religious freedom is 
positive. He believes that ultimately the presence of religious 
freedom and Christianity in China will be positive for economic 
development and in fact necessary; it is therefore in the GoC's 
interest to continue to make strides in this area. On Islam, 
Cervellera addressed India, claiming that Muslims were creating 
social upheaval in India.  He described a growth of Hindu 
nationalism that he said had come in part as a response to 
aggressive Islam.  Cervellera insisted that the presence of 
Christians, whether in South Asia or the Middle East, provided a 
moderate influence that could enhance the prospects for 
religious freedom and the stability of these regions. 
Cervellera noted what he saw as a conflicted relationship 
between Muslims and modernity; though for some Muslims modernity 
is a denial of faith, terrorists continue to use modern 
techniques as a means to their end.  When questioned by an 
audience member on the effect of the 2008 Summer Olympics on 
China, Cervellera said that the games would be a great 
opportunity for China to open itself to the world, inevitably 
creating more favorable conditions for religious freedom. 
 
 
 
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Comment 
 
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¶6. (SBU) Since the Second Vatican Council some forty years ago, 
the Vatican has become the global center of discussion of 
religious freedom.  While some conferences and programs on the 
topic veer towards the theological, many address concrete 
religious liberty issues that directly impact U.S. interests. 
Cervellera and Schmid are frequent Embassy Vatican contacts. 
ROONEY