South Bend, Ind., Nov 12, 2012 / 19:08 pm
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano has told the University of Notre Dame that there is a concrete "menace" to religious liberty in the U.S. that is advancing in part because some influential Catholic public figures and university professors are allied with those opposed to Church teaching.
"Evidence is emerging which demonstrates that the threat to religious freedom is not solely a concern for non-democratic and totalitarian regimes," he said. "Unfortunately it is surfacing with greater regularity in what many consider the great democracies of the world."
The apostolic nuncio, who serves as the Pope's diplomatic representative to the U.S., said this is a "tragedy" for both the believer and for democratic society.
Archbishop Vigano's Nov. 4 speech keynoted the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Church Life conference. He discussed martyrdom, persecution, and religious freedom, with a particular focus on the United States.