Pope Underlines Ecumenical, Interreligious Tone of Visit to Georgia, Azerbaijan... from ZENIT of Roswell, Georgia, United States for Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Pope Underlines Ecumenical, Interreligious Tone of Visit to Georgia, Azerbaijan... from ZENIT of Roswell, Georgia, United States for Wednesday, 5 October 2016
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Pope Underlines Ecumenical, Interreligious Tone of Visit to Georgia, Azerbaijan by Kathleen Naab

As is customary upon the return from an apostolic visit, Pope Francis today dedicated his general audience address to a recap of last weekend’s trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
“This journey was the continuation and completion of the one to Armenia in the month of June,” he explained. “Thus, thank God, I was able to realize the plan to visit all three of these Caucasian countries, to confirm the Catholic Church that lives in them and to encourage the path of those populations towards peace and fraternity.”
The Pope noted his gratitude to God and to the authorities of both countries, in particular thanking the “Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II — his testimony did so much good to my heart and soul — and to the Sheikh of the Muslims of the Caucasus.”
The Holy Father spoke of both the “ancient historical, cultural and religious roots” of the two countries, as well as the fact that both are celebrating their 25th anniversary of independence, since “for a good part of the 20th century [they were] under the Soviet regime.”
The Church is present in the challenges of this phase of their history, the Pope assured, in charity and in supporting the development of peoples, “in communion with the other Christian Churches and Communities and in dialogue with the other religious communities, in the certainty that God is Father of all and we are <all> brothers and sisters.”
True mission
In Georgia, he said, this mission is lived in collaboration with the Orthodox, and in this context, he noted the importance of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarch’s welcome at the airport and their meetings together.
He referenced the relic of Christ’s tunic, present in their Patriarchal Cathedral, and a strong symbol of Christian unity, a unity “corroborated by the blood of so many martyrs of the different Christian Confessions.”
He also spoke of the prayer he made in Georgia with the Catholic community, “for peace in Syria, in Iraq and in the whole of the Middle East.”
Noting that his Mass in Georgia with the Catholic community was celebrated on the feast of St. Therese, patroness of the missions, the Pope said the saint “reminds us that true mission is never proselytism, but attraction to Christ from strong union with Him in prayer, in Adoration and in concrete charity, which is service to Jesus present in the littlest of brothers.”
He praised this witness of the Catholic community there, and also in Azerbaijan, as well as the witness of Christian families.
Fraternal bonds
“This style of evangelical presence as seed of the Kingdom of God is, if possible, even more necessary in Azerbaijan,” Pope Francis continued, “where the majority of the population is Muslim and Catholics are a few hundred; however, thank God, they have good relations with all, in particular they maintain fraternal bonds with the Orthodox Christians.”
He spoke of both the celebration of the Eucharist and the interreligious meeting in Baku, saying that the unity with Christ in the Eucharist is a push toward interreligious dialogue.
In the Eucharist, he said, “the Spirit harmonizes the different languages and gives the strength of witness.”
“This communion in Christ,” he continued, “does not impede, but rather pushes one to seek encounter and dialogue with all those who believe in God, to build together a more just and fraternal world.”
He concluded with an allusion to the ongoing conflict over a region of the Caucasus, saying that “addressing the Azerbaijani Authorities, I hoped that the <existing> open questions might find good solutions and that all Caucasian populations may live in peace and in mutual respect.”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full text: https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-on-visit-to-georgia-azerbaijan/
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Pope’s Address to ‘Sport at the Service of Humanity’ Conference by ZENIT Staff

Here is a Vatican translation of the Pope’s address today to the first global conference on faith and sport, hosted by the Pontifical Council for Culture, with the theme “Sport at the Service of Humanity.” The conference began today and concludes Friday.
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Dear brothers and sisters,
I am delighted to greet you, protagonists of the world of sport, together with the Authorities and the delegates of other religious communities, who have come to the Vatican to show, as the title of the international Conference suggests, the valuable service that sport offers to humanity. I greet you all and thank you. In particular, I greet Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture; Mr Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations; and Mr Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee.
Sport is a human activity of great value, able to enrich people’s lives; it is enjoyed by men and women of every nation, ethnic group and religious belonging. During these last few months, we have seen how the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been at the centre of attention of the whole world. The Olympic motto “altius, citius, fortius” is an invitation to develop the talents that God has given us. When we see athletes giving their very best, sport fills us with enthusiasm, with a sense of marvel, and it makes us almost feel proud. There is great beauty in the harmony of certain movements and in the power of teamwork. When it is like this, sport transcends the level of pure physicality and takes us into the arena of the spirit and even of mystery. And these moments are accompanied by great joy and satisfaction, which we all can share, even those not competing.
Another important characteristic of sport is that it is not just for high performance athletes. There is also sport for pleasure, for amateurs, for recreation, not aimed at competition, but allowing all to improve their health and wellbeing, to learn to be a part of a team, knowing how to win and also how to lose. This is why it is important to participate in sporting activities, and I am happy that at the centre of your reflections these days there is the commitment to ensure that sport is always more inclusive and that its benefits are truly accessible to all.
Our religious traditions share the commitment to ensure the respect for the dignity of every human being. So it is good to know that the world’s sporting institutions have taken so courageously to heart the value of inclusion. The Paralympic movement and other sporting associations sustaining those with disabilities, such as the Special Olympics, have had a decisive role in helping the public recognise and admire the extraordinary performances of athletes with different abilities and capacities. These events present us with experiences in which the greatness and purity of sporting gestures stand out clearly.
But in this moment I am also thinking about those many children and the youth who live at the edges of society. Everybody is aware of the enthusiasm with which children will play with a rugged old deflated ball in the suburbs of some great cities or the streets of small towns. I wish to encourage all of you – institutions, sporting societies, educational and social organisations, religious communities – to work together to ensure these children can take up sport in circumstances of dignity, especially those who are excluded due to poverty. I am pleased to know that present at the conference are the founders of the Homeless Cup and other foundations that, through sport, offer the most disadvantaged a possibility of integral human development.
I desire to point out also a task and a challenge for you, representatives of sport and of the businesses that sponsor sporting events. The challenge is that of maintaining the honesty of sport, of protecting it from the manipulations and commercial abuse. It would be sad for sport and for humanity if people were unable to trust in the truth of sporting results, or if cynicism and disenchantment were to drown out enthusiasm or joyful and disinterested participation. In sport, as in life, competing for the result is important, but playing well and fairly is even more important!
I thank all of you, then, for your efforts to uproot every form of corruption and manipulation. I know there is a campaign underway led by the United Nations to fight against the cancer of corruption in all areas of society. When people strive to create a society that is fairer and transparent, they collaborate with the work of God. We too, responsible for different religious communities, wish to offer our contribution for that commitment. As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, she is working in the world of sport to bring the joy of the Gospel, the inclusive and unconditional love of God for all human beings.
I trust that these days of meeting and reflection will allow you to explore further the good that sport and faith can bring to our societies. I entrust to God all that you do, every hope and expectation, and from my heart invoke his blessing on each one of you; and I ask you, please, to pray for me.© Copyright – Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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Pope to Youth: Be Missionaries! by Kathleen Naab

In his customary greetings to the young, the sick and newlyweds at the end of today’s general audience, Pope Francis recalled that October is the month of missions.
During this month, he said, “we are invited to pray intensely to Our Lady, Queen of the Missions.”
The Pope encouraged young people to be missionaries, not necessarily in foreign lands, but in the situations of their daily lives.
“Dear young people, be missionaries of the Gospel in your surroundings,” he said, “with the mercy and tenderness of Jesus.”
The Holy Father encouraged the sick people to use their sufferings for the missions: “Offer your sufferings for the conversion of the distant and the indifferent,” he said.
Finally, he invited the newlyweds to live their family lives in a spirit of mission, close to the Word of God.
“Be missionaries in your family,” he told them, “with the proclamation of the Word and the example of the Gospel of salvation.”
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Pope on Faustina’s Feast: Let Us Repeat Frequently, ‘Jesus I Trust in You’ by ZENIT Staff

On today’s feast of St. Faustina, Pope Francis prayed that the “message of Merciful Jesus” would bear fruit in our lives, bringing us to a deeper union with God and leading us to live the works of mercy.
The Pope said that when he greeted the Polish pilgrims at the end of today’s general audience.
“I cordially greet all the Polish people present here and in particular the ex-prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp,” he said. “Today we commemorate St. Faustina Kowalska, who reminded the world that God is rich in mercy, and that His love is stronger than death, sin and all evil. May this message of Merciful Jesus, entrusted to her, bear fruit in our life with a deeper union with God and with the works of mercy. Entrusting ourselves and the difficult problems of the world to the Lord, let us repeat frequently: ‘Jesus, I trust in you!’ Praise be to Jesus Christ.”
St Francis and St Therese
As is customary, the Holy Father concluded the general audience with greetings to various language groups.
Among the French speakers, he addressed in particular the priests of Nevers, with their bishop Brac de la Perrière, pilgrims from Rodez with Msgr. Fontlupt, the “travellers of hope” from Avignon and Marseille, and priests from Mechelen-Brussels and faithful from the dioceses of Tournai and Liège. “I commend you to the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Therese of Lisieux, to journey together courageously on the roads of holiness, in search of authentic fraternity among us. God bless you”.
Among the German speakers, he mentioned pilgrims from the diocese of Mainz, and faithful from the parish of St. John the Baptist in Garrel, accompanied by Msgr. Timmerevers, and he gave special greetings to a group of young people participating in the Pontifical Swiss Guard Information Week, as well as several groups of students, such as those from the Anne Frank secondary school of Werne.
Finally, he greeted the Italians, starting with those from the Dioceses of Aosta and Ventimiglia-San Remo, accompanied by Bishop Franco Lovignana and Bishop Antonio Suetta, as well as Ambrosian pilgrims with Msgr. Mario Delphini. He expressed his hope that their jubilee pilgrimage strengthen their adhesion to Christ, for growing ecclesial effort in favour of diocesan and parish communities.
“I greet and encourage the priests of the Pontifical St. Paul Missionary College in Rome to further their theological studies. I also greet the Gloria Crucis group of the Lateran University, the faithful of Grottamare and of Vigevano, and I exhort them to live the Extraordinary Jubilee with faith, bearing witness to the works of corporal and spiritual mercy.”
Similarly he greeted the Italian Institute of Donation, the association “Vivire da Sportivi,” the Federation of Cynological Sports, students from the Oasis Madre Serafina schools in Rome and the Franciscans of Civita Castellana.
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Pope’s Address to ‘Vodafone Foundation’ by ZENIT Staff

Below is a Vatican-provided translation of Pope Francis’ address to directors of the Vodafone Foundation, which is promoting an initiative called ‘Instant Schools for Africa,’ working to provide online educative resources to young people on the African continent. The Pope received the foundation this morning in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall:
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I welcome all of you and I thank the Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Group for his presentation on this interesting initiative entitled “Instant Schools for Africa”, which seeks to offer online access to important educational resources for a great number of African youth, as we have heard, some of whom are living in refugee camps.
This project is part of the wider spectrum of public and private initiatives that promote a more inclusive and supportive world, providing opportunities for development to individuals and social groups at risk of being excluded.
I wish to express my appreciation for this initiative and I would like to suggest that, in implementing such a project, care be taken to provide these young people with some orientation in methodology, so that they can learn not only how to use tools, but how to use them as tools, thus enabling them to bring out the best of these means in a free and critical way.
Finally, a desire of mine: that, among the resources offered to youth, there may be digital access to the sacred texts of various religions, in their respective languages. This would be a beautiful sign of care for the religious dimension so deeply rooted among African peoples, and a sign also of encouraging interreligious dialogue.
Thank you again for your kind visit, and I wish you much success in this project, which from what I have heard, I like a lot. It is constructive, and today we need to be constructive, to do things that lead humanity ahead, and not merely look on as bombs fall on innocent people, children, the sick, entire cities. Build, do not destroy! Thank you.[Original Text: Italian] [Vatican-provided translation]
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INTERVIEW: ‘Saint Teresa of Calcutta – a Gift for India’ by Włodzimierz Rędzioch

Below is an interview of Wlodzimierz Redzioch with His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, the Major Archbishop Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in India, provided to ZENIT. Presently Cardinal Cleemis is the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI).
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What is the meaning of the Canonization of Mother Teresa for the Church in India?
His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis: India is a fast developing country and we have a lot of varied realities in India:the cultures, the language, ethnicity and financial background, job opportunities and spiritual treasuries and so on… So in this varied, diversified, reality of India Mother Teresa , or the new Saint Teresa of Calcutta, brings a hope for the marginalized people, the poor, the poorest of the poor, that they have a hope that they will not be abandoned.
By the canonization of Mother Teresa the Church confirms that it is a mandate, it is a mission and it is a commitment of the Church to take care of the poor everywhere, not only in India, everywhere.
Mother Teresa looked at poverty only on the basis of poverty. She did not look into Christian poverty or Hindu poverty of Muslim poverty and so on…She looked at poverty as poverty, as poverty alone. Therefor her solution to the poverty was the same. Poverty should be addressed on that particular category alone, poverty, no more poor! So, she loved this poor and she tried to do whatever was possible through her to eradicate poverty and also she gave the experience of the closeness of God to these abandoned. This is all the more significant in India because India is a land of diversity. And Christianity, even with its history of two thousand years in India, it is a small community. So with the emergence of this small lady, which the government of India honored with the highest civilian award of “Bharatharatna”, that means the “Jewel of India”, then the Nobel Prize, and now a sainthood from above, from the Catholic Church. This is an affirmation of this little lady’s, little nun’s, work in India as a work with a secular mind.
A religious sister doing the service for everyone, going beyond cast and creed and language. So this is the beauty of Mother Teresa’s work in India. She meant her service for all and India needs such service, such people who can look at India as a secular India, meant to feel that everybody is same, everybody is in our land, everybody belongs to our land.
How India has changed in the last twenty years after the death of Mother Teresa?
Of course, there has been a considerable sign of growth in all aspects, especially India has been growing as a fast developing country in the world and as an economic power, and at the same time we should also see that the have-nots, the poor ones are also increasing in India in their own level. Poverty is not solved but poverty now is still seen in different ways on the basis of religious faith, cast, creed, ethnicity and also the classes and even in the so-called countries that say they don’t have a cast system, there are different class systems. It is equivalent to the cast system. Therefore India has been also having this reality. Poverty is seen in different areas now, and also, I must say, the poor are still there. Lots of poor people are in India even after the service of Mother Teresa and other many people and we have still poor people. But the sensitivity towards the poor is now felt need, a charism of everyone to feel that we need to do something good for the poor.
The state does not have the capacity to face the poverty?
The state cannot, alone cannot, solve the problem of poverty nowhere in the world. I think we all have to cooperate with the government and with the state to eradicate poverty. It is also our obligation to do something positive to solve the poverty. Hence the Church has more responsibility to take care of the poor.
Mother Teresa was criticized and attacked by the Hindu extremists because they have seen in the mission of Mother Teresa a kind of proselytism. The situation has changed because we know that now the Hindu party is in power and the Hindu extremism is growing. What is the reaction of the Hindus to the canonization of Mother Teresa?
Mother Teresa has been honored and at the same time criticized by a few people. And the model before us is Jesus. Jesus was criticized left and right by the Pharisees at his time. Not for doing anything bad but for doing something good. Jesus was criticized because Pharisees and scribes and many people at that time did not understand the meaning of his activity, the meaning of the power and spirituality behind all the good things done by Jesus.
Goodness, the service, the mercy, compassion these are always questioned in the history of humanity. Whatever is being done good, naturally, there will be some questions with a negative tone asking why?
Mother Teresa, after all her works in India, if you ask precisely, to those people who accuse Mother Teresa on conversion, how many did Mother Teresa convert? Check the baptism register, check the parish registers, before that, check your conscience before criticizing this lady who brought compassion and mercy to the people, the real “waste-box”. They were about to die, nobody wanted them. Their soul had no value at all. But Mother Teresa brought value to that soul by adding that boy or girl, man or woman to her own community, her own house where she was living. Why Mother Teresa being questioned and criticized? For doing such compassion, charity, or the people who criticized were afraid that Christianity would be spread fast because of such compassion and activities?
Ours is a democratic country. India is a secular country and all have their freedom to express pro or against. There is no doubt about it. But we hold our values on a secular base which nobody can take away. India is not a land of one religion. India is the land of many religions and India has had the presence of Christianity from the very beginning of Christianity itself. So for us Christianity is not a foreign religion to India. It is our own religion, religion of our own land. And if some people with a fanatic approach question these realities, well, they have the freedom to do so. But we never give up the freedom to live in India as a Federal Republic and as a secular country which always praises and cherishes the secular value, the diverse realities in religious faith, as well as, in cultures.That is our land.
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GENERAL AUDIENCE: On Visit to Georgia, Azerbaijan by ZENIT Staff

Here is a ZENIT working translation of the address Pope Francis gave during this morning’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!
Last weekend, I undertook an Apostolic Journey to Georgia and Azerbaijan. I thank the Lord who granted it to me and I renew the expression of my gratitude to the civil and religious Authorities of these two countries, in particular to the Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II — his testimony did so much good to my heart and soul — and to the Sheikh of the Muslims of the Caucasus. A fraternal thank-you to the Bishops, the priests, the Religious and to all the faithful who made me feel their warm affection.
This journey was the continuation and completion of the one to Armenia in the month of June. Thus, thank God, I was able to realize the plan to visit all three of these Caucasian countries, to confirm the Catholic Church that lives in them and to encourage the path of those populations towards peace and fraternity. It was evidenced also by the two mottos of this last trip: “Pax vobis,” for Georgia and “We are all brothers,” for Azerbaijan.
Both these countries have very ancient historical, cultural and religious roots but, at the same time, they are living a new phase: in fact, this year both celebrate the 25th anniversary of their independence, having been for a good part of the 20th century under the Soviet regime. And in this phase they face similar difficulties in the different realms of social life. The Catholic Church is called to be present, to be close, especially in the sign of charity and of human promotion, and she seeks to do so in communion with the other Christian Churches and Communities and in dialogue with the other religious communities, in the certainty that God is Father of all and we are <all> brothers and sisters.
In Georgia, this mission passes, of course, through collaboration with Orthodox brothers, who constitute the great majority of the population. Therefore, a very important sign was the fact that, when I arrived at Tbilisi, both the President of the Republic as well as the Venerable Patriarch Ilia II received me at the airport. The meeting with him that afternoon was moving, as was the visit the following day to the Patriarchal Cathedral, where the relic of Christ’ tunic is venerated, symbol of the unity of the Church; this unity is corroborated by the blood of so many martyrs of the different Christian Confessions. The Assyro-Chaldean community is among the most tried; with it, I lived at Tbilisi an intense moment of prayer for peace in Syria, in Iraq and in the whole of the Middle East.
The Mass with the Catholic faithful of Georgia – Latins, Armenians and Assyro-Chaldeans – was celebrated on the Memorial of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Patroness of the missions: she reminds us that true mission is never proselytism, but attraction to Christ from strong union with Him in prayer, in Adoration and in concrete charity, which is service to Jesus present in the littlest of brothers. It is what the men and women religious do that I met at Tbilisi, as later also at Baku: they do so with prayer and with charitable and promotional works. There I encouraged them to be firm in the faith, with memory, courage and hope. And then there are the Christian families: how precious is their presence of hospitality, accompaniment, discernment and integration in the community!
This style of evangelical presence as seed of the Kingdom of God is, if possible, even more necessary in Azerbaijan, where the majority of the population is Muslim and Catholics are a few hundred; however, thank God, they have good relations with all, in particular they maintain fraternal bonds with the Orthodox Christians. Therefore, at Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, we lived two moments that faith is able to hold in right relation: the Eucharist and the inter-religious encounter. The Eucharist with the small Catholic community, where the Spirit harmonizes the different languages and gives the strength of witness; and this communion in Christ does not impede, but rather pushes one to seek encounter and dialogue with all those who believe in God, to build together a more just and fraternal world. In this perspective, addressing the Azerbaijani Authorities, I hoped that the <existing> open questions might find good solutions and that all Caucasian populations may live in peace and in mutual respect.
May God bless Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, and accompany the path of His Holy People’s pilgrimage in those countries.[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
Greeting in Italian
I give a warm welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims. I receive with joy the faithful of the Dioceses of Aosta and Ventimiglia-San Remo, accompanied by the Bishops, Monsignor Franco Lovignana and Monsignor Antonio Suetta, as well as the Ambrosian pilgrims with Monsignor Mario Delpini. I hope that the Jubilee pilgrimage will strengthen each one in his adherence to Christ for a growing ecclesial commitment for the benefit of the diocesan and parochial communities.
I greet and encourage the priests of the Saint Paul Pontifical Missionary College, who have come to Rome to deepen their theological studies. I greet the Gloria Crucis Group of the Lateran University, the faithful of Grottammare and those of Vigevano, and I exhort them to live the Extraordinary Jubilee with faith, witnessing corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
I greet the Italian Institute of Donation; the “Live as Sportsmen” Association; the Dog Lovers Sport Federation, and the students of the Mother Serafina Oasis schools of Rome and of the Franciscan Sisters of Civita Castellana.
Finally, a thought goes to young people, the sick and newlyweds. The month of October is the missionary month, in which we are invited to pray intensely to the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Missions: dear young people, be missionaries of the Gospel in your environments with the mercy and tenderness of Jesus; dear sick, offer your suffering for the conversion of the estranged and the indifferent; and you, dear newlyweds, be missionaries in your family, proclaiming with the Word and with example the Gospel of salvation.[Original text: Italian] [Working Translation by ZENIT]
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English Summary of Pope’s General Audience by ZENIT Staff

Here is the Vatican-provided English-language summary of Pope Francis’ General Audience this morning in St. Peter’s Square:
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Speaker:
Dear Brothers and Sisters: I thank the Lord for the grace of my recent visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan, and I renew my gratitude to the civil and religious authorities of both countries, in particular to the Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, and to the Sheikh of the Muslims of the Caucasus.
This visit complemented my visit to Armenia in June, and fulfilled my desire to visit all three nations of the Caucasus to confirm the Catholic community and to encourage all the people in their journey toward peace and fraternity. Though Georgia and Azerbaijan enjoy ancient historical, cultural and religious roots, they have only just celebrated twenty-five years of independence, and are experiencing great challenges. The Catholic Church is called to be close to them, especially through works of charity and promoting the good of the human person, in communion with the other Churches and Christian communities, and in dialogue with other religious communities. In Georgia, our cooperation is naturally with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, and so Patriarch Ilia’s presence at the airport upon my arrival was a very important sign, as well as our visit to the Patriarchal Cathedral and our meeting which was very moving. Our unity is seen in the blood of so many Christian martyrs of different Christian confessions, especially the Assyrian-Chaldean, with whom we prayed for peace in Syria, Iraq and the whole Middle East. In Azerbaijan, a primarily Muslim country, I was able to participate in an interreligious meeting and to celebrate Mass with the small Catholic community. Our communion of faith inspires us to deepen our encounter and dialogue with all who believe in God, so that together we can build a more just and fraternal world. May God bless Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, and guide his holy people in those countries.
Speaker: I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United States of America. Upon all of you, I invoke the mercy and peace of the Lord, praying that you may share these gifts with all whom you will encounter. May God bless you![Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text]
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European Court Protects Church’s Right to Require Religion Teachers Live Church Teaching by ZENIT Staff

On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights handed down judgment in the case of Travaš v. Croatia. The Court held that churches have the freedom to select, appoint, and replace their personnel in accordance with Church teaching and without undue state interference. The Court agreed with ADF International’s arguments that the autonomy of churches is protected under the Convention.
“Religious institutions must have the freedom to set rules and standards governing who can teach religious education in church schools. The European Court of Human Rights has consistently protected the principle of church autonomy. In this case, the Court upheld the right of the Catholic Church to hold a teacher of religion to the same doctrines he was supposed to be teaching. The ruling has positive implications for all European Churches,” said Robert Clarke, Director of European Advocacy for ADF International which intervened as a third party before the Court.
Personal life not in line with doctrine
Peter Travaš was a teacher of religion at a Catholic school in Croatia. He divorced his wife and, in 2006, remarried in a civil ceremony. The church then revoked the special permission required from the local Catholic Bishop to teach Catholic religious instruction as his personal life was not in line with the church’s doctrine on marriage and therefore he was not allowed to teach. The school tried to find another post for him where he would not be teaching religion. However, there was no alternative job available at that time and, consequently, he was removed from his teaching role.
Travaš challenged his dismissal in the Croatian Courts, culminating in a failed appeal to the Constitutional Court. It held that the school and the church had acted in accordance with Croatian law. Travaš then brought the case before the European Court of Human Rights in 2013. He complained that his right to private and family life had been violated. The Court unanimously dismissed his appeal, holding that there was no violation of his rights under the Convention.
“It is for each and every church to set its own doctrine, and the State must respect the internal autonomy of churches and religious institutions. If a person does not comply with church teaching, the church should not be forced to allow that person to teach religion classes in their schools,” said Lorcán Price, Legal Counsel for ADF International.
ADF International is an alliance-building legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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