News September 2005

Dr. Jonathan Gallagher (R), speaks at the Adventist University in Peru

Dr Gallagher Visits Peru

As part of the ongoing program to highlight human rights and religious freedom, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, associate PARL director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church visited Peru. He attended a regional meeting on human rights education sponsored by the UN, and gave one of the featured presentations entitled "Human Rights, Religion, and Peace" in his role as deputy-secretary general of the International Religious Liberty Association. He took advantage of the visit to hold briefings in Lima on religious liberty concerns, and spoke twice at the Adventist University. Interviewed by local radio station, he also underlined the vital importance of freedom of conscience and the right to believe as fundamental principles in a democratic society.

"Such a visit exemplifies the way in which Adventists can work to change public opinion for the better," comments Gallagher. "By becoming involved in public dialogue and presenting our fundamental beliefs regarding the importance of the freedom to believe, we speak well of the God of freedom and help others to recognize religious liberty as a vital principle in a harmonious society." [PARL News]

L to R: Dr. Abelardo Muro, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, Pr. Melchor Ferreyra, Pr. Samuel Saito

Peru: Proposed Law on Religious Freedom and Equality Submitted to Government

Lima, Peru… In a highly-significant move, a working group on religious freedom and equality has completed the project it was assigned and submitted a proposed law to the Peruvian government's Ministry of Justice on September 27. If the proposed legislation enters into law, it will guarantee equality of treatment for all religions and persons, says Dr. Abelardo Muro, one of the bill's writers and proponents, and representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to the working group.

"This proposal will be studied by the Ministry of Justice, and may be amended," Muro comments. "But however it is presented, this will be the most important recognition given to, and guarantee of, religious freedom and religious equality ever-this inherent right with which human beings are created."

The bill's twenty-eight articles include a robust defense of religious freedom as a fundamental human right, and echoes international declarations guaranteeing the right to change one's religion, to practice religion in accordance with the dictates of conscience, and the equality of religious bodies before the law. This last point is particularly significant in that other religious groups would be able to claim the same exemptions from taxes and other benefits currently only enjoyed by the majority religion.

"We applaud the work of this representative and committed group," says Melchor Ferreyra, leader of the Adventist Church in Peru. "For many years religious minorities have faced discrimination, and we believe that the government is now willing to act, and to set all religious groups on the same basis before the law. Equality of treatment and the freedom to operate in accordance with beliefs are important to all citizens in Peru, and the same principles of equality and freedom need to be extended to religious organizations as well. We look forward to the speedy adoption of this much-needed law." [PARL News]

TOP