Rising Concerns Over Religious Freedom in the West

The 2023 Religious Freedom in the World report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has shed light on alarming trends in Europe and the Western world, despite the most severe cases of religious persecution occurring in certain African and Asian countries. The report highlights a growing pattern of compelled speech, hate speech laws, censorship, the rise of cancel culture, and a worrisome intolerance toward certain faith-based views in Western societies.

Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/27/2023 (1 year ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: Religious Freedom, USA, Europe, west, Christian, persecution, report

While more direct forms of persecution are prevalent in African and Asian nations, such as China's internment of Uyghur Muslims or the targeted violence against Christians by Nigerian Islamists, discrimination against religious groups in Western countries is often subtle.

Edward Clancy, ACN-USA Director of Outreach, refers to this type of persecution in the West as "polite persecution," a term frequently used by Pope Francis. Clancy cites examples such as a U.K. doctor losing his job for refusing to use preferred pronouns, French laws limiting religious symbols in certain public spaces, and COVID-19 restrictions disproportionately affecting religious gatherings compared to other activities, as seen in New York.

The report also highlights the influence of cancel culture, noting that rejection of new gender concepts can subject individuals to threats of legal consequences in some Western nations. Laws like hate speech legislation have been introduced to enforce and solidify these concepts as new "human rights."

One case mentioned in the report involves Finnish Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola and Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen, who were charged with hate speech due to a Twitter post regarding Lutheran teachings on homosexuality. While the charges were ultimately dismissed, the prosecutors have appealed the verdict.

Compelled speech is another area of concern addressed in the report. It cites a practice direction from the British Columbia Supreme Court in Canada, which advises adherence to self-identified gender pronouns. The report argues that this implicitly enforces conformity to gender identity beliefs, disregarding religious or conscientious objections.

Clancy emphasizes that individuals are being prosecuted for violating standards related to preferred pronouns, traditional marriage, or anything contrary to a secular worldview.

The report also flags Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus as countries "under observation" for the next report, considering the challenges to religious freedom amid the Russo-Ukrainian War. ACN is attentive to the religious freedom threats in these countries, particularly the ethnic and religious nationalism present from both sides.

Clancy acknowledges the past persecution experienced in the region under communism and views the current situation as a sad reminder. However, he notes that this form of persecution differs from the threats faced during communism, which posed a threat to Christianity as a whole.