Interfaith leaders focus on importance of religious freedom

Representing the Episcopal Church, Maureen Shea, director of government relations, read a statement in which she noted the church's strong belief that "religious freedom is a goal to be sought in all societies, regardless of their political creeds.  Our interfaith work in this country and around the world informs us daily about those who struggle for the right to exercise the privilege of their religion."

The event opened with remarks by His Holiness regarding the importance of religious freedom as a basis of civil society. 

Others participating in the event were: the Rev. Dr. Weldon Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance; Bishop Martin Holley for the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington; the Very Reverend Leonid Kishkovsky, moderator, Religions for peace; Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation; Dr. Rajwant Singh, President, Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE); Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, the Islamic Society of North America.  

Shea pointed to the Episcopal Church's role in the writing and passage of the International Religious Freedom Act signed by President Bill Clinton in 1998.  Working as his special assistant for religious outreach at the time, Shea recalled Clinton's words when he signed the act:  "The United States was founded on the right to worship freely and on respect for the right of others to worship as they believe. When we promote religious freedom we also promote freedom of expression, conscience, and association, and other human rights. This Act is not directed against any one country or religious faith. Indeed, this Act will serve to promote the religious freedom of people of all backgrounds, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, or any other faith."

Shea also remarked on the enduring special relationship with the Armenian Church dating from1917 when American Episcopal bishops invited "Armenian prelates to participate on equal terms in worship space and services with Episcopalians while making clear that they would not ask that they abandon the Church of their heritage."  

In 2005, then - Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold led a delegation to Armenia to celebrate over a century of friendly relations between the two churches.  Last month, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, also paid an official visit to Armenia.  

Shea concluded her remarks: "We are grateful to you, Your Holiness, for your insights into the importance of religious freedom.  We are blessed to work with our sisters and brothers throughout the Anglican Communion and our many interfaith partners to see that the ability to exercise one's religion is upheld in every nation."

A full copy of the statement:

Statement of Maureen Shea
Director of Government Relations
The Episcopal Church
October 11, 2007

Thank you.  I am honored to be here at the invitation of His Holiness Karekin II and with my colleagues from the interfaith community. 
The Episcopal Church has an enduring special relationship with the Armenian Church. In a 1917 letter, American Episcopal bishops invited Armenian prelates to participate on equal terms in worship space and services with Episcopalians while making clear that they would not ask that they abandon the Church of their heritage.  The letter said:
 
The Episcopal Church will always be glad to lend...its edifices to the Armenians for the celebration of their services, and be of any service to them in any way possible, acting always with no desire in any way to draw Armenians away from their Church, but simply to enable them to have privileges of exercising their worship, receiving the Sacraments when they either have no church buildings, or no clergy of their own to minister to them.

In 2005, our 25th Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, led a delegation to Armenia to celebrate over a century of friendly relations between our two churches.  Just last month, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, also paid an official visit to Armenia.  

At the conclusion of his visit, Williams stated: 

For our Churches and, we believe, for the well-being of our societies the continuing development of fruitful and mutually respectful relations between Church and State is crucial.

It is both the ability to exercise the privileges of one's religion and the "respectful relations between church and state" that bring us together today under the watchful eye of Thomas Jefferson.  I should note that Jefferson was an Episcopalian although like many, he had some disagreements with his church.  Scholars continue to debate the 1802 letter in which he wrote of a wall of separation that would protect church and state.  That principle of religious freedom, however, endures and is strengthened by the many faith traditions being practiced today in the United States.

The Episcopal Church believes firmly that religious freedom is a goal to be sought in all societies, regardless of their political creeds.   Our interfaith work in this country and around the world informs us daily about those who struggle for the right to exercise the privilege of their religion.  Our Church played an important role, with others here today, in the writing and passage of the International Religious Freedom Act signed by President Clinton in 1998.  The office of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and the State Department's annual report on religious freedom resulted from that legislation.

It was my privilege to work for President Clinton at that time and I recall the words he used in signing the act as their relevance continues today.

The United States was founded on the right to worship freely and on respect for the right of others to worship as they believe. When we promote religious freedom we also promote freedom of expression, conscience, and association, and other human rights. This Act is not directed against any one country or religious faith. Indeed, this Act will serve to promote the religious freedom of people of all backgrounds, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, or any other faith.

We are grateful to you, Your Holiness, for your insights into the importance of religious freedom.  We are blessed to work with our sisters and brothers throughout the Anglican Communion and our many interfaith partners to see that the ability to exercise one's religion is upheld in every nation.