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News December 1998 | International Religious Liberty Association

IRLA Program Marks 50^th Anniversary of the UDHR

Around the world, nations and non-governmental organizations alike are commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

John Graz, secretary general of the International Religious Liberty Association, describes the UDHR as the expression of "people, leaders, and nations who dared to dream the best for humankind."

The Universal Declaration was signed in Paris December 10, 1948. Article 18 states:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest one’s religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

The IRLA launched a series of global celebrations with a commemorative convocation conducted in Silver Spring, Maryland, November 20. The program featured addresses by

* Robert A. Seiple, President Clinton’s nominee to become the first U. S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

* Joe Sills, director of the United Nations Centre in Washington, who represented UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

* Karen S. Lord, counsel for religious freedom at the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the U. S. version of the Helsinki Commission.

* David Little, senior scholar in religion, ethics, and human rights at the United States Institute of Peace.

* Robert S. Folkenberg, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, who reviewed the involvement of the church in human rights and pledged continued support for "all human rights for all."

Earlier that week, the Seventh-day Adventist Church issued a formal position statement on human rights. The church’s Administrative Committee "urges the United Nations, government authorities, religious leaders and believers, and non-governmental organizations to consistently work for the implementation" of the UDHR. The complete statement was read during the convocation.

The program included an enthusiastically received concert by the New England Youth Ensemble and the Columbia Collegiate Chorale, both groups based at Columbia Union College.

IRLA’s Next President: Gunnar Staalsett Is the Bishop of Oslo

As the Lutheran Bishop of Oslo, he’s Norway’s No. 1 prelate. And he’s a member of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. Gunnar Staalsett is also a vice president of the International Religious Liberty Association. During 1999 he’ll serve a rotational term as president, succeeding Attorney Robert W. Nixon, chief legal counsel of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. IRLA Secretary General says he welcomes Staalsett’s election. Graz expects that Staalsett will attend the May meeting of the IRLA Committee of Experts in Madrid and, next December in New Delhi, the Southern Asia Regional Congress on Religious Freedom.

Meanwhile, Graz has received the resignation of Wintley Phipps who had been on leave from his post as associate secretary. Phipps will continue his development of the U. S. Dream Academy, a computer education project for children and youth who are economically disadvantaged. He will also pastor the Seabrook (Maryland) Seventh-day Adventist Church and serve the president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as a special assistant.

Graz has asked Richard Lee Fenn to remain on the IRLA staff permanently. He’s been on temporary duty since March. Fenn’s formal appointment as deputy secretary general is pending.

Around the world: The status of religious freedom

Tirana, Albania (ANR)–-Western officials have praised a referendum on a draft constitution that would allow Albanians to legally change their religion. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which monitored the November 30 vote on the country’s first post-communist constitution, said balloting was "peaceful throughout the country." The constitution would also give citizens the right to identify themselves as members of an ethnic minority and define property rights. The government would get legal authority to expropriate land deemed to be in the national interest.

Lahore, Pakistan (ANR)–-A young Seventh-day Adventist minister was jailed because a relative of his had allegedly run away with a young Muslim girl. This is reportedly a common practice to pressure families to find young runaways. Said Garth Anthony, church president in Pakistan: "The pastor is not guilty of any offense. In fact, after much discussion, he was authorized to leave prison. However, he chose to stay inside in order to prove to the authorities that as a Christian he could not participate in such actions."

Tension between Muslims and Christians has been mounting in communities throughout Pakistan. Thirteen Christians, eight from the same family, were killed recently for allegedly engaging in witchcraft. The Christian community maintains that the victims were simply praying for Muslim friends who were ill.

Havana, Cuba (The Washington Post)–-Christmas is returning to Cuba. Thirty years after the Communist government led by Fidel Castro canceled Christmas, the restoration of the Christian holiday is seen as a major concession to the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II visited Cuba earlier this year. According to Cuba’s Communist Party newspaper, the Politburo now hopes the liberation of Christmas will foster closer ties with the Vatican.

Kandy, Sri Lanka (Special to IRLA Information)–-A Seventh-day Adventist pastor has been in jail here since late last March. His wife says he’s been tortured and forced to sign a document confessing that he is a terrorist. He’s not, of course. But he is a Tamil and in this island nation that’s enough. The majority Singhalese and the minority Tamils have been at each other for years. Ethnic loyalty often overrides Christian principle: Since Pastor Alexander is a Tamil, the Singhalese would think, he’s got to be a terrorist. If he’s not, well, God will watch over him. In this case, God has a job: Alexander was recently moved from an ordinary detention center to a maximum security prison. He has urged his wife to sell their possessions to raise funds for his defense. Against what? No one knows because he hasn’t been charged. Meanwhile, the couple’s eldest son is in hiding. Pastor Alexander was told the boy would be next. What’s to hope for? In behalf of Pastor Alexander, the Adventist church in Sri Lanka has retained a human rights attorney and the International Religious Liberty Association has appealed directly to the president in Colombo to intervene immediately.

Navai, Uzbekistan (Special to IRLA Information)–-Seventh-day Adventists here have built a nice church for their Sabbath worship services. But the municipal authorities won’t register it. They even refuse to accept the application forms. Instead, they suggest to the 150-member congregation that "you’d better give the building to the city for wedding ceremonies." The faithful, if frustrated, church members have asked IRLA to help. Elsewhere in Uzbekistan, however, other churches and groups are going forward with official registration procedures.

Somewhere in Turkmenistan (Special to IRLA Information)–-Agents of the government recently stopped a church leader from completing an important mission. The minister’s car was confiscated–along with a supply of Bibles he intended to distribute. A few days later he got his car back, but not the Bibles. Said a high official of the Directorate of Religious Affairs: "We won’t allow such a plague to be brought in."

Moscow (Special to IRLA Information)–-The board of directors of the Russian chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association has drafted an appeal to the government regarding state violations of the law on registration of religious organizations. IRLA Russia also charges that local regions have passed their own laws which are inconsistent with the federal statute. The draft appeal is being sent to President Yeltsin, the State Duma, the Federal Council, and the Constitutional Court.

Vatican City (L’Osservatore Romano)–-Describing himself as "servant of the servants of God," Pope John Paul II told a symposium of Catholic church diplomats that the mission of papal diplomacy is to help "all individuals and all peoples fulfill their own destiny in peace and harmony." In his November remarks the pope noted that in the last 20 years–the period of his reign, "we have witnessed numerous changes, a sign of the deep desire to live in freedom, sometimes acquired at the high cost of suffering." John Paul said "the lack of democracy and respect of human rights are factors of destabilization."

"Restoring Religious Freedom in the States"
Council on Religious Freedom Sets Legal Conference

Rockville, Maryland, USA–-The Council on Religious Freedom will conduct a two-day legal conference starting January 28 at Georgetown University in Washington. The theme: "Restoring Religious Freedom in the States." Speakers will address the movement to pass state versions of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act which the U. S. Supreme Court subsequently ruled unconstitutional. Additional information is available by contacting CRF at 888.590.8766 or visiting www.c-r-f.org on the web.

IRLA’s Professional Journal Debuts

The IRLA’s professional journal, Fides et Libertas, will be off the press before Christmas. The 128-page publication contains more than 20 articles by authors ranging from Argentina (President Carlos Saul Menem) and Brazil (Senator Iris Rezende) to China (Christian Council Associate Secretary Bao Jia Yuan) and Russia (State Duma Member Valery Borschev). The first issue of Fides et Libertas deals extensively with religious liberty in a pluralistic society. Editor Richard Lee Fenn indicates that the 1999 issue, targeted for publication next October, will consider various aspects of proselytism, evangelism, and witness. "What forms of proselytism are appropriate in a pluralistic world? When does gentle persuasion become overt aggression? What about nations which claim to guarantee religious freedom but in practice block both worship and witness? Fides et Libertas seeks thoughtful, challenging articles. The best will be accepted," Fenn says.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ASSOCIATION

* Chartered in 1893, the IRLA has advocated for religious freedom for 105 years. It is incorporated as a tax-exempt educational organization. The IRLA does not identify with any political party anywhere, nor does it endorse candidates for political office. The IRLA was originally organized by leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but its purpose is universal and non-sectarian. Various religious organizations are represented on the Board of Directors. The presidency rotates annually among a panel of vice presidents. The president in 1989 was the former general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation; in 1991, the general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. The IRLA has no paid staff. Officers and directors serve voluntarily. Funding for IRLA operations comes from organizations and individuals supportive of the association’s purpose.

* Offices of the IRLA are at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600 U. S. A. Phone 301.680.6680. Fax 301.680.6695. President (1998): Robert W. Nixon. Vice Presidents: Bert B. Beach, Matthew Bediako, Gunnar Staalsett, Denton Lotz, Leo Ranzolin. Secretary General: John Graz. Deputy Secretary General: Richard Lee Fenn.

* The IRLA maintains a United Nations liaison office at the Church Center for the United Nations, Room 9-H, 777 UN Plaza, New York, New York 10017-3585 U. S. A. Phone 212.687.6488. The IRLA is represented at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

* The IRLA’s professional journal is Fides et Libertas. The 1998 issue is available at $5. The IRLA supports the publication of Liberty: A Magazine of Religious Freedom in the United States and Conscience et Liberte in Europe.

* The International Religious Liberty Association has organized and convened 11 world (*) and regional congresses on religious liberty: Amsterdam* 1977; Rome* 1984; New Delhi (Southern Asia Regional) 1986; London* 1989; Nairobi (East Africa Regional) 1991; Moscow (Russia and Confederation of Independent States Regional) 1993, 1996, and 1997; Suva, Fiji (Pacific Rim Regional) 1993; Budapest 1997; and Rio de Janeiro* 1997.

* The IRLA Statement of Purpose: (1) To disseminate the principles of religious liberty throughout the world. (2) To defend and safeguard the civil right of all people to worship, to adopt a religion or belief of their choice, and to manifest their religious convictions in observance, promulgation, and teaching, subject only to the respect for the equivalent rights of others. (3) To support the right of religious organizations to operate freely in every country by establishing and owning charitable or educational institutions. (4) To organize national, regional, and local chapters; and to conduct seminars and congresses.