Church Leaders Respond to Draft European Constitution

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA… Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church noted the February 6 release of the draft version of the proposed European onstitution and commented on some aspects, particularly in relation to religious freedom and human rights. The Constitution has been at the center of a vigorous debate over whether God should be mentioned and religion referenced as part of Europe’s heritage.

“We are aware of the interest generated in developing a Constitution for Europe,” comments Dr. Bertil Wiklander, president of the Adventist Church’s Trans-European Division based in St. Albans, England. “As a non-political religious organization we maintain a position of church-state separation while remaining fully committed to freedom of conscience and human rights. We trust that as this constitutional process continues that the countries of Europe will continue their positive stance relative to such vital freedoms and civil liberties.”

“Having read the draft document, I would say that it is important that Europe establish a Constitution that expresses shared European values and ideals,” says Dr. John Graz, director of the Church’s Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department. “Article 2 attracted my interest in particular, for I would have been pleased to see reference made to the International Instruments especially to the International Covenant and the Universal Declaration of Human rights. Both documents in their Article 18 underline religious freedom. If Europe wants to viewed as supportive of human rights it has to be recognized by each member of the European Union that religious freedom is a basic human right.”

While not expressly identified as part of the proposed Constitution, Article 5 does reference the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which includes as Article 10 “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or in private, to manifest religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

In a 1998 statement the Church urged “the United Nations, government authorities, religious leaders and believers, and non-government organizations to consistently work for the implementation” of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The statement concludes that such implementation “would respond to and help reduce growing and violent religious extremism, intolerance, hate crimes and discrimination based either on religion or anti-religious secularism.” [Jonathan Gallagher]

Adventist Church Releases Annual Religious Liberty World Report

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. The fourth annual Religious Freedom World Report, based on information gathered from Adventists in 201 countries, was released on February 3, by the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL).

"Our goal is to promote values of religious freedom and to give a voice to all those around the world who are suffering for their faith," said Dr. John Graz, PARL director. "These individuals should know that their fellow believers are actively trying to raise international awareness on their behalf."

The new World Report provides a great deal of information about religious freedom to readers in a user-friendly way. Countries are categorized on a scale of one to five, with five indicating the worst situation-no religious freedom at all. This year's report highlights nine countries in category five and 24 countries in category four.

"Religious freedom is still a major challenge and the report is intended as a resource for human rights organizations, other international agencies, governments and church entities," said Graz.

The report will be passed onto the United Nations and other relevant authorities, said Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations Liaison director for the Adventist Church.

"The U.N. special rappoteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Abdelfattah Amor has expressed his appreciation for past reports and used such documentation in his work to reduce religious freedom violations," Gallagher said.

According to the report, difficulties faced by Adventists are similar to those encountered by other religious minorities. In Turkmenistan for example, there are only 500 Adventists in a country with a population of five million. These Adventists, as well as other religious minorities, are facing serious persecution. There have been several instances in Turkmenistan, a category five in the World Report, where Adventists were arrested, fined for meeting together, and had their literature and tapes confiscated. In November 1999 the authorities destroyed the only Adventist church building in the country.

The World Report also focused on other countries where religious freedom is a growing concern.

In parts of the former Soviet Union religious intolerance is spreading. Strong movements to involve the state in religious affairs are increasing and draft laws on traditional and non-traditional religious organizations are being considered. Parts of India are also giving cause for concern. New legislation on conversion and evangelism is a development that can restrict religious activities and is targeted at minority groups. Among the positive trends is the new approach of the French government towards religious minorities.

"We encourage Adventists to become more involved in the fight against religious intolerance, and to share the World Report with those they feel can make a difference for religious freedom," Graz concluded. The 2002 World Report will be available at http://parl.gc.adventist.org. [Viola Hughes/Katie Galbraith]

Adventists Tackle Issues of Violence

New York, New York, USA... A high-profile United Nations meeting, entitled "Preventing Violence, Promoting Health: Shared Strategies" brought together over one thousand groups to tackle this highly significant issue, reports Jonathan Gallagher, the Seventh-day Adventist Church's UN Liaison director. In the year 2000 there were an estimated 1.6 million violence-related deaths worldwide, nearly half of which were suicides, according to a recent report by World Health Organization. In suicide alone, this accounts for nearly one death every 40 seconds.

"How can we not be involved in such important issues?" asks Gallagher. "Violence strikes at the heart of the gospel message. It is shocking that annually nearly 200,000 youths around the world are victims of homicide. We are here to do our part to tackle these great areas of concern."

Also attending the January 30 meeting and voicing concern was Dr. Peter Landless, associate health ministries director for the Adventist Church. He noted the close connection between violence and health, as well as the contributory factors of alcohol and drug abuse.

"The significant mental health problem of suicide was emphasized," Landless said. "It is shattering to know that in a time of such marked global war and aggression that the number of suicides exceed the number of homicides. Alcohol and drug use play an important role in this situation, as well."

Landless, who is also executive director for the International Commission for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (ICPA), stressed that the Adventist Church may be more susceptible to drug abuse and violence than many believe.

"At the meeting they related violence frequently with alcohol and other drug consumption," Landless said. "And despite denominational denial, the problem of alcohol and drug use is on the increase in our schools, colleges and in our churches. The Church is being challenged to respond...it may be almost too late."

The meeting opened the Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence, which marks the January 30 assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and runs to April 4, the anniversary of the shooting of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Audrey Kitagawa, advisor, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, noted that Gandhi and King were "both giants who were deeply spiritual people, they sought out guidance from a power greater than ourselves." She spoke of the Global Peace School initiative, and concluded by asking, "With all this violence in the world, what are we going to do about it?"

For Landless part of the answer is simple.

"The time has come for us to reemphasize the problems related to alcohol and other drug use." [Katie Galbraith/Viola Hughes]