Madrid, Spain, Jun 8, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Archbishop Antonio Cañizares Llovera of Toledo and Vice President of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference is calling for the adoption of concrete actions to “combat and contrast prejudices and false representations of Christians and of members of other religions” in the media and in schools.
Participating in a conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance, the archbishop emphasized that such measures should encourage “the contribution of churches and other religious communities to public life in their countries.”
“Intolerance and discrimination against Christians and members of other religions are worrisome phenomenon which must be put to a stop with the same determination with which anti-Semitism and discrimination against Muslims is combated,” said Archbishop Cañizares.
He went on to note, “It would be paradoxical to omit concrete measures to guarantee religious freedom for Christians and members of other religions when the general plan is to supposedly eliminate discrimination and intolerance.”