Freedom of religion: who could be against that?

We all believe in freedom to worship -- or not -- the God or gods of your choice. Right? Wrong!

Here in the so-called "Christian" countries, we have the militant secular humanists, who rant against organized religion and the mere mention of God or His Son in everyday life. Don't mention God in the Constitution, they tell us. Don't say "Merry Christmas" because it's "divisive". And don't dare to suggest that a Divine Power had anything to do with the making of the universe.

That's in our post-secular western society. But in other parts of the world, things are even worse. What "other parts of the world" are we talking about? In "Targeting the World's Worst Religious Persecutors", in Forbes, Doug Bandow lists the nations regarded by the US State Department as the most flagrant violators of religious freedom.

With the exception of Buddhist Myanmar (the country formerly known as Burma), the worst offenders are either Islamic nations or countries that were -- and in some cases still are -- governed by Communist régimes. Just as Our Lady of Fatima warned nearly a century ago, the errors of Russia -- Her metaphor for godless Communism -- are rife in the world today. As for the Muslims, they are not godless. They are infidels, militant and dangerous in their jihad against God and His Holy Church.

The last two paragraphs of Mr. Bandow's excellent article are worth reading and thinking about carefully.

The freedom to believe, or not believe, in God and respond accordingly—as individuals, families, and communities—is precious. Sadly, much of humankind is denied this most fundamental right.

While Washington cannot make the world free, Americans can reach out and help their oppressed brothers and sisters around the globe. Persecution should be highlighted and denounced; victims of intolerance, hate, and violence should be comforted and supported. Finally, if America is to remain free, Americans must tenaciously defend religious liberty at home.

What are you doing to stand up for the religious freedom for which millions have fought and died? You don't have to be a Catholic or even a Christian. But you should oppose in whatever way you can the attacks of the atheists and the heathens on the right of believers to worship God in public and in peace.