Religious freedom has never been enjoyed throughout the world and people in many places are persecuted for their faith, but much of the democratic West has generally taken for granted the right to worship and live according to one’s religious beliefs.
Western societies have protected and cultivated this most basic human right by enshrining it into their constitutions, upholding it in courts, and considering it a fundamental mark of democracy.
Initially, this privilege was enjoyed by people in only the few most developed nations, but gradually, as totalitarian regimes collapsed and the world democratized, freedom of religion was extended to more places, and most people were living under some form of democratic government by the end of the 20th century. However, this worldwide trend of liberation and expansion of religious freedom no longer continues.
Religious persecution still remains most severe in countries which have never fully democratized, such as Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan and especially North Korea, where Christians are imprisoned, tortured and executed for their faith. Although China has relaxed many of its political and economic regulations, the government is drafting a new law to greatly expand its already tight control over religion. Illegal religious activities including contact with foreign clergy, distribution of religious material and unauthorized pilgrimages will be punishable by heavy fines and possibly imprisonment.
A similar law was already passed in Russia and signed into effect by President Vladimir Putin in July. After decades of Communist repression, Russia experienced a brief period of spiritual liberation through the 1990s and early 21st century that helped revive the Russian Orthodox Church. While the Orthodox Church enjoys considerable support from Putin’s government, the new law, framed as a “counter-terrorism and public safety measure,” restricts missionary work of any other religion and bans promoting religion over the internet as well as religious gatherings in unregistered places, including private homes.
However, the most alarming trend is the decline of religious liberty in even the most advanced and stable democracies of Europe and North America. Although freedom of worship is still safeguarded in most democratic constitutions, the freedom to live according to one’s conscience is slowly slipping away, becoming subordinated to a wider concept of “human rights.” Christianity, which originally developed the concept of human rights, has in recent times come into conflict with a new, redefined version of human rights which includes the “right” to abortion and euthanasia.
Unrestricted abortion on demand is available in most Western democracies, and euthanasia is now legal in parts of the United States, Canada and several European countries. Such laws will inevitably run counter to the religious consciences of some health care providers. Unless laws are passed and enforced to expressly protect freedom of conscience, there is a risk that medical professionals will be pressured to participate or assist in these procedures against their conscience or face reprisals for refusing.
This gradual weakening of religious freedom is also manifested at the symbolic level as public signs of faith are discouraged or outright suppressed. France is still wrestling with its ban on religious clothing and head covering for women in public. British courts have recently ruled that since the practice of wearing a cross is not essential to Christianity, employers may legitimately ask employees to remove any visible and identifiable religious jewelry.
Unfortunately, the United States is no exception to these worldwide trends.
Today, there is no place in the world where religious freedom can be considered absolutely guaranteed. The erosion of this most basic human right, which forms an integral and inseparable part of a democracy, can no longer be ignored. Genuine freedom of religion includes both the freedom of worship and the freedom to live in accordance with one’s conscience. That right must be pursued, cultivated and protected through awareness and active political participation by every citizen.
Dr. Kamila Valenta is a member of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte and a part-time professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she teaches courses on ethnic conflict.