#88
The Vatican, COVID-19, and Religious Freedom

The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating interreligious tensions in various settings. The Holy See’s Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) expressed great concern about intolerance, with hate crimes rising against Christians and members of other religions. This violates human rights and fundamental freedoms. The representative highlighted threats, violent attacks, murders, and profanation of churches and places of worship, cemeteries, and other religious properties. The Vatican representative expressed “great concern” about a divide between religious belief and religious practice. Behind it is the “false idea,” which he said is growing, that religions could have a negative impact or represent a threat to the well-being of our societies. This argument is often focused on the internet and social media, a place to put others down or incite hatred of cultural, national, and religious groups. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the trend, since people are spending more time online during lockdowns. Discrimination on social media can lead to violence, the final step in a “slippery slope which starts with mockery and social intolerance.”

The Vatican statement highlighted the importance of dignity and unity as the basis of all truly democratic societies. National minorities should be free to profess and practice their religion. But lockdowns to stem the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to rising inequalities and “de facto discriminatory treatment.” In response to these threats, the Holy See’s representative urged OSCE member states to promote both tolerance and fundamental freedoms, which include religious liberty, saying, “Tolerance cannot be an alibi for denying or guaranteeing fundamental human rights.”

(Based on: May 28, 2020, Vatican News article.)