News November 2008

Adventists Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, November 10, 2008 ... Adventists in Sao Paulo gave strong support to the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by attending the VIIIth Paulista Forum on Religious Liberty and Citizenship. The celebration was held in the City Council Meeting Room on November 10, 2008. The theme of the meeting was: “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights—60 years later.”

Seventh-day Adventists were well-represented at the VIIIth Paulista Forum on Religious Liberty and Citizenship held in the Sao Paulo City Council Meeting Room on November 10, 2008.

City Council member Agnaldo Timoteo, who is also a popular singer in Brazil, chaired the meeting. The Brazilian Association for Religious Freedom and Citizenship (ABLIRC) Attorney Samuel Luz, underlined the positive effect of the Declaration in the promotion of religious freedom in Brazil . Dr John Graz, Secretary-General of the International Religious Liberty Association, noted the great influence of the UDHR and Article 18 on many constitutions of countries around the world. He further stated, “There are no human rights without religious freedom and no real religious freedom if human rights are not respected.” However, “the UDHR has been challenged in recent years and it is regularly under attack,” added Graz.

Dr Alcides Coimbra, Secretary General of ABLIRC declared that “even though Brazil is a great country for religious freedom, discrimination can occur on local and regional levels, and should be corrected.” 

Sao Paulo City Council member Agnaldo Timoteo (second from left) chaired the meeting at which the proposed Brazilian Charter of Religious Freedom was released.

The celebration ended by the reading of the Brazilian Charter of Religious Freedom. “This document represents a paradigmatic precedent that should never be forgotten by Brazilian society,”said Attorney Aldir Guedes Soriano. The Brazilian Charter has been in preparation since the first forum held by ABLIRC on November 11, 2006. A group of experts have been working on it for several years. Copies of the Charter will be sent to the Executive Legislative, and Judicial branches of the Brazilian government.

Brazilia: South American Adventist Leaders Support the
World Festival of Religious Freedom

On Wednesday, November 12, Dr. John Graz was invited to lead the morning worship for the South American Division Year-end Meeting which is being held at the division headquarters in Brasilia, November 10 to 13.  Graz encouraged the gathered leaders to believe in God’s promises and to aim high in their projects and goals.  A report of the Festivals of Religious Freedom was presented, including plans for the First World Festival of Religious Freedom to be held in the South American Division in 2009.

Pastor Edson Rosa, South American Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director, introduced John Graz’s book, Issues of Faith and Freedom, which has now been translated into Spanish and Portuguese. Several church leaders showed great interest in the ministry of religious freedom and the activities proposed for the coming year. South America Division President, Pastor Erton Kohler, publicly declared his support for the First World Festival of Religious Freedom, which will take place in Lima, Peru, on November 21, 2009.

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