Anti-democratic denying the extension of rights of Mexicans as Religious Freedom: CEM
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Por: Staff | Fuente: cem.org.mx

Anti-democratic denying the extension of rights of Mexicans as Religious Freedom: CEM

Text by GECOX based on an interview with Father Manuel Corral Martín, Executive Secretary of Public Relations of the CEM on religious freedom in Mexico
By:  | Source: cem.org.mx

A true laic state is neutral, so the reform does not give privileges to any church, does not imply religious teaching in the schools, possession of media, or that cult ministers are elected to positions of popular election.

The amendment to Article 24 of the Constitution extends the right of people to freely exercise their religion, whatever it may be, which is why the democratic spirit contradicts those who, under the pretext of discriminating against some religious association, seek to impose their criteria and deny an extension of rights to all Mexicans, said the Executive Secretary of Public and Institutional Relations of the CEM, Manuel Corral Martín.

It must be clear that this reform does not imply a privilege or discrimination against any religious group or association, nor does it imply the modification of the constitutional article 3 that establishes that education must be secular; does not seek the establishment of a legal system that allows conscientious objection or the recognition of the ministers of worship so that they can be elected in positions of popular election.

An authentic laic state, said Father Corral Martin, is one who respects religious freedom, citizens who are associated by a religious condition, watch over their rights and therefore are neutral, do not take sides with any religion and encourage the citizens without restriction by allowing different religions to coexist in the social sphere.

There is a very strong contradiction between these groups. According to them, they defend democracy, citizen participation and on the other hand, they are restricting the most fundamental right of the person that is the faith that he can or cannot profess. They are anti-democrats who seek to impose their authority, seek to impose their criteria and are afraid to respond to the challenges that are presented today in Mexico, which are freedoms and a fundamental right as is religious freedom, "he said.

He explained that deputies and federal senators of the PRI, PAN, PVEM, and PRD, in a large majority, approved last December the amendment to Article 24 of the Constitution to expand the concept of Religious Liberty in terms of the right the Mexicans should enjoy.

However, at the suggestion of the PRD deputies, the term "ethical convictions" was included, and today that same concept is being questioned by legislators of the same party in local Congresses and has been used as an argument to reject it.

The same happens, he added, when they say that the reform privileges a church, specifically the Catholic Church, but they do not say how, they are unfounded accusations, they are groups that manipulate the consciences of many people and all will be exposed. These paths of deceit, simulation, and ideologies that do not make us advance as a country. Are they afraid of wide religious freedom?

The amendment to Article 24, he said, is in line with article 1 of the Constitution, which recognizes freedom of religion as a human right in full harmony with the international treaties that Mexico has signed on human rights, the universal declaration of 1948 and the International Covenant on civil and political rights.

The freedom of cults or freedom of creeds has to do with the expansion of the rights of the governed and the fundamental freedoms of every human being and gives power to people so that they can freely manifest their beliefs, whatever they may be.

Freedom of religion or worship is not a right for the Catholic Church or religious institutions since these were already legally recognized in 1993, when the Law of Religious Associations and Public Worship came into force, so it should be clear that the benefit is for the people of Mexico.

Consequently, said the Executive Secretary of Public and Institutional Relations of the Conference of the Mexican Episcopate, the amendment to Article 24 is not opposed to the Mexican secular state, nor does it affect minority rights.

The religious associations are formed by people, by citizens, men and women of good faith who are associated in religious groups and are those who benefit, so they who criticize that the Catholic Church will benefit from the religious freedom will also have more freedom and will not be able to discriminate.

He also made it clear that cult ministers cannot actively participate in politics since the canon law governing the Catholic Church internally prohibits them and any minister, priest or bishop who wants to exercise public office will have to renounce his ministry. 

Faced with this, the priest Corral Martin, called Catholics to defend this fundamental right or otherwise tomorrow will be late and we will be sorry because they will see our little unity and we those people who scream the most will win while we remain crouched. If Mexico is not a country of liberties and respect, we will have impositions that we will not like, so they must defend this right to religious freedom.

He asked the local legislators to read all the minutes and the background of the reform and not to be carried away by siren songs, fears or particular interests of some groups, because tomorrow they will have the claim of future generations.

Religious freedom is recognized in the constitutions of most countries in Latin America and Europe, so although now it is the exception, sooner or later, Mexico will recognize religious freedom in the General Constitution of the Republic.

Text by GECOX based on an interview with Father Manuel Corral Martín, Executive Secretary of Public Relations of the CEM