From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Irish 'Yes' Vote on Same-Sex 'Marriage' Poses Significant Threat to Religious Freedom

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 21 May 2015

Ireland will tomorrow become the first country to use a national referendum to allow same-sex “marriage”, posing a probable threat to religious freedom in the country if the electorate vote “Yes.”

Although the government plans to protect the right of churches not to celebrate same-sex “marriage”, this will appear only in legislation and not in the Constitution.

This leaves open the possibility of a same-sex couple taking the matter to court and winning the case, as the Constitution will have no protections for the Church if it refuses to officiate the ceremony.

In addition to this, and the obvious threat to the traditional family a “Yes” vote would present, European Dignity Watch has pointed out that the debate leading up to tomorrow’s referendum has been anything but fair.

All of Ireland’s publicly-funded political parties have actively campaigned for a “Yes” vote and used heavy handed tactics to ensure their members tow the party line, threatening them with expulsion if they don’t.

The country’s media has been overwhelmingly in favor of the “Yes” campaign, and ignored a Supreme Court ruling that both sides of the debate be given equal coverage.

Large multinationals employing many people in Ireland, such as Facebook and eBay, have told their employees to vote “Yes” and campaign for such a result on social media.

Wealthy donors have helped fund the "Yes" campaign, including a foreign billionaire - despite such funding being illegal under Irish electoral law. The Irish government has so far not reacted to this breach.

Ireland’s police are also actively supporting the "Yes" campaign, allowing police stations to be used for photo opportunities.

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute is greatly concerned by the threat a "Yes" vote presents.

"We call on all people who believe man is created in the image and likeness of God to do whatever they can to ensure a "No" vote succeeds," said DHI Chairman Luca Volontè. "As this is a referendum, the result will carry more weight than parliamentary legislation. The consequences of a "Yes" vote would therefore be disastrous for Ireland."

He added: "Given the limited time and the huge financial resources behind the "Yes" campaign, the best courses of action at this stage are fervent prayer, and the intercession of St. Patrick."

The Dignitatis Humanae Instituteaims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Queen of Sweden to DHI: Do Whatever You Can to Help Children - All Children

Note:The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

(Photo: Benjamin Harnwell talking to HM Queen Silvia at the Vatican)

Rome, 28 April 2015

The DHI was honoured to participate April 27th in an exclusive, invitation-only Vatican seminar on Human trafficking.

Hosted by the ever-impressive Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the Swedish government, the "Seminar on Trafficking - with a Special Focus on Children" featured H.M. The Queen of Sweden, and DHI Board Member H.E. Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace.

After thanking her for the work she was doing to highlight the terrible reality of the trafficking of children Benjamin Harnwell, DHI Founder, asked Queen Silvia - citing Mother Teresa - whether she also thought there was a connection between abortion and the hardness of hearts shown towards children after they are born.

The Queen, who is the Swedish Head of State, made immediately clear that she didn't want to - and cannot - enter the political debate on abortion. But as a global leader in the campaign for children's welfare, her answer in the context of the question deserves careful study and reflection.

Harnwell put to Her Majesty that Mother Teresa suggested that a society that aborts its children will never fully recognize the human dignity of people once they're born. He asked whether the way society in the West deals with children before they are born has somehow hardened our hearts to the plight of children being trafficked in the West today. "Is there is a correlation between these two events?," Harnwell asked.

Queen Silvia replied:

"I must say that Mother Teresa was a wonderful person and all the work she did was really fantastic. She was a Nobel Peace Prize winner - and so she really was a model. To talk about humanity and dignity was very important to her heart - I must say - and so I think she is very right: and so whatever you can do to help the children - all children - really, we should do.

The DHI will leave this excerpt as it stands without any editorialising interpretation, and encourages DHI supporters to keep the great Swedish people, and their noble Queen, in their prayers: especially Queen Silvia's mission to promote the rights of children - "all children" - in her work.

Editors' Note:

Taken from the Workshop programme:

"Inspired by the words of Pope Francis that 'Human Trafficking is Modern Slavery'and that this practice is a 'Crime against Humanity,'the purpose of the seminar is to highlight the special situation of children as victims of human trafficking as well as what measures, be it national legislation or international efforts, can be taken to protect better the rights of children. Practical examples of how children are affected and of possible legal measures will be given at the seminar."

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: British Parliament To Debate A Scientific Procedure Which Has Never Been Legal Anywhere Else. Ever.

Note:The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 3 December 2015

Today, Tuesday 3 February, the British House of Commons will debate an alteration to the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, which will allow for the first time the creation of persons comprised of DNA from three parents.

Besides concerns about the safety of the scientific procedure known as mitochondrial donation - which has never been allowed legally anywhere - there are also ethical concerns that British parliamentarians will have to consider.

In one of the two techniques, pronuclear transfer, two embryos are created and combined to produce a healthy embryo, resulting in the destruction of the embryo created from the donor egg. The other technique, maternal spindle transfer, involves the manipulation of the egg cell outside of the womb, combining egg cells from two different women.

British Parliamentarian Lord Alton of Liverpool, the Convenor of the DHI's Cross Party Working Group on Human Dignity, said: "It is essential to voice support for those who suffer from mitochondrial diseases and to ensure that medical care is always sufficient. At the same time, it is equally important that scientific progress is in line with human dignity, which it must serve, rather than vice versa. It is not morally acceptable, and it can never be morally acceptable, to destroy one person, harvesting their DNA for the needs of another person, which one of these two methods permits. This is the fast road to any of the futuristic dystopias one can find at any cinema."

The ethical implications of the proposed methods for mitochondrial donation include:

1. Embryo destruction: In the case of pronuclear transfer, an embryo - a human life at its earliest stage - is destroyed when its pronuclei are removed and transferred to the healthy embryo, which has had its own pronuclei removed. Neither embryo is being treated with dignity: the healthy embryo is being bred and made to carry genetic material that is not its own, while supplying healthy mitochondria.
2. Modifying the germline: Both techniques create what can be called 'genetically modified babies'. This may open the door to more possibilities of modifying babies even before they are conceived or implanted.
3. Parenthood: The notion of parenthood, of one mother and one father who have produced their offspring together, is blurred. Furthermore, conception is yet further divorced from the conjugal act.

DHI Chairman Luca Volontè said of the forthcoming UK parliamentary debate: "In modifying the person either at the embryonic stage (by giving a living embryo new genetic information), or by modifying the egg cells which, together with the sperm cells, are basic sex cells that form new life, personhood is diluted, the human body is commoditised and scientific practice gallops towards the normalisation of eugenics. It is a sign of how far we have come that in less than two generations, when IVF was first successfully tested in 1978, people are now so inured to scientific 'advancements', many can no longer see the massive evil latent hiding under the outer aspect of 'something good'."

The Dignitatis Humanae Instituteaims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute : "The Islamic State Tightens Grip - Christians Flee"

Note:The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 26 July 2014

The world has watched with increasing dismay and horror as the remaining Iraqi Christian minorities have been forced out of their homes, most recently in Mosul and the surrounding area, in the latest wave of persecution and destruction rained down by the Islamic State formerly known as "ISIS". Houses have been looted and robbed. Graves and shrines have been demolished. Crosses smashed and removed from churches.

Elie Essa Kas Hanna, DHI analyst on Human Dignity and Religious Freedom, said: "Iraqi Christians are the original residents of Mesopotamia - descendants of the ancient Babylonians, Chaldeans, Assyrians and a large number of Arabs tribes: Mudar, Rabia and Tay etc. Christianity has been present in Iraq since the First Century AD, when most of the population of Mesopotamia converted to Christianity, though leaving others to continue in their traditional beliefs in Judaism, Manichaeism and Parsee. Today, 2,000 years later, the descendants of these original Christians are being driven out as though guests in a home whose welcome they have overstayed - ironically by a religion that didn't even appear on the scene for another five centuries."

DHI Chairman Luca Volontè added: "The whole situation is clearly out of all control. There is tension between the government and the opposition forces, as well as the tension that still exists between the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. It is in this space of uncertainty and mistrust that the Islamic State has moved deftly to occupy a large part of Iraqi territory that is now almost two-thirds the size of the Great Britain."

Lord Alton of Liverpool, who launched the DHI-affiliated Cross-Party Working Group on Human Dignity in the Palace of Westminster, and one of the British Parliament's most respected authorities on religious persecution around the world, said: "In 2003, the Christian presence in Iraq was 1.5 million. After the end of the Second Gulf War, the Christian presence was reduced to 400,000 people - and most of these lived in the north. Now a staggering 90% of those Christians who remained have now fled from Mosul to surrounding areas, especially onto the plains of the Biblical city of Nineveh, on the border of the Kurdistan region."

Lord Alton illustrated the current situation with a recent example: "The DHI notes with alarm the destruction of the Biblical Tomb of Jonah - which dates from the 8th Century BC - smashed by sledgehammer blows which have echoed around the world. We can only hope that last week's rumour of the similar destruction of the tomb of the Prophet Daniel turns out to be false."

Indicating the difficulty regarding the authentication of reports that are emerging from the Islamic State, Lord Alton added: "Also unverified, the UN and the BBC have reported that ISIS forces in Mosul have ordered all girls and women to undergo female genital mutilation. This is an outrage. More than 130 million girls and women have already been subjected to this barbaric practice worldwide - and it has to stop. In the Islamic State today we see a historically recurring meme sadly replaying itself: an orgy of destruction of culture and heritage sooner or later leads to attacks on human beings, their freedom and dignity."

Volontè concluded: "The DHI believes that Iraqi Christians are a vital part of Iraqi society, and that they have an irreplaceable role to play in rebuilding together - with other citizens of goodwill - a future for their country. The DHI appeals to the international community to do everything possible to come to the aid of the few Christians left in Iraq. We add our prayers to those of His Holiness Pope Francis, who follows the suffering of Christians in Iraq with great closeness."

ENDS

population before 2003 32.200.000

population after 2013 29.000.000

Shia 26.000.000

Sunni 2.000.000

Others 1.000.000

Christians before 2003 1,500,000

Christians after 2003 400,000

Christians after Isis 2014 100,000 – 200,000

Source: Central Statistical Organisation, Ministry of Planning, Republic of Iraq

The Dignitatis Humanae Instituteaims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: The abandoned Christians of Wenzhou: the Chinese Government steps up the intimidation

Note:The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 28 April 2014

Thousands of Chinese Christians have united in the city of Wenzhou to form a 24-hour human shield around the Sanjiang Christian Church, amidst threats from the Communist authorities to demolish the building. The three-story Church is one of ten places of worship to have been listed for demolition in the Zhejiang province, considered China's most Christian region. This is the second time in two weeks the Christians of Zhejiang have flocked to protect their Church from the machinations of the local Communist party.

Though attempts to close down Christian Churches are nothing new in China, the Sanjiang Church stands as an officially-sanctioned place of worship by the Communist government, and is, in theory, entitled to the legal protection of Article 36 of the Chinese constitution:

"Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities."

In spite of a mounting campaign of intimidation and suppression, China's thriving Christian community is growing at an exuberant rate, with research from the University of Purdue foreseeing an estimated 247 million Christians living in China by 2030. Under the rule of Mao Zedong, China was declared an atheist state, and a campaign of violence was waged against the mere one million Christians that then lived in China. When the Cultural Revolution was brought to an end in 1976, a degree of tolerance began to take form. Nevertheless, heavy restrictions remain on Christian worship. Only the state-approved, state-monitored, state-restricted 'Three Self Patriotic Movement' is considered a legal form of Christianity, with non-conformist congregations and underground 'house Churches' subjected to brutal recriminations.

Speaking in support of the Christians defending Sanjiang Church, Luca Volontè, Chairman of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute said:

"All the lessons of history demonstrate to China the futility of forcing Christians to choose between faith and country. The Christian awakening of millions of Chinese citizens is not a form of political process but rather the peaceful desire to learn and to worship Our Lord. After bold statements from Western leaders - including David Cameron and Angela Merkel - on the duty to defend Christians from persecution, the international community cannot abandon the Christians of Whenzou to this very public campaign of coercion and suppression."

The Dignitatis Humanae Instituteaims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Nigeria's Islamic militants: a cancer that risks metastasising (and the world turns away)

Note:The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 26 February 2014

As the Christian community of Nigeria suffers two large-scale terror attacks in the course of a week, Luca Volontè, Chairman of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, spoke of his outrage at the disregard displayed by Western governments:

"For four years, Boko Haram has conducted a campaign of mass slaughter and wanton destruction. Like a cancer, their reach and influence has been allowed to spread unchecked, the number of innocents dead now ranges in the thousands, the extent of property and communities destroyed incalculable. While European officials rush to Kiev to take undeserved credit for the hard-won liberty of Ukraine's people, they seemingly ignore the suffering of those in Nigeria.

As has repeatedly been made clear by Nigerian officials, the domestic security and military services lack the expertise to conduct an effective counter-insurgency campaign. As it was in Mali, it is our duty to give our full support to the besieged communities and make available any means that they so require."

Last week saw Boko Haram (which means "Western education is a sin") conduct two attacks on predominantly Christian towns - Bama and Igze - the latter of which had only been attacked three weeks previously. With the use of sophisticated military hardware, the Islamist attackers destroyed public buildings, burned Churches and killed over one hundred people in each attack. The savagery and scale of the raids further demonstrates the inability of Nigeria's security forces to prevent the murderous campaign of Boko Haram, despite a State of Emergency already being in place.

In a statement unlikely to give much solace to the besieged population of Nigeria, US Ambassador James Entwistle pointed the finger to underlying social causes for the rise of Islamist terrorism, including the 'lack of employment opportunity' and 'the education system.' Luca Volontè retorted:

"Given their expressed desire to enforce an Islamic state upon all, ruled by Sharia Law in its entirety; I doubt that tinkering with the nations' employment opportunities or the education system is likely to convince Boko Haram to give up its weapons. Rather than blaming a suffering society for the intent of their attackers, it is imperative that all unequivocally reject the agenda of Boko Haram. As we have seen in Sri Lanka, with the right conviction and the necessary means, terror groups can be suppressed and the rule of law restored."

The Dignitatis Humanae Instituteaims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: "When Doctors Get it Wrong: The Tragedy of Aborting Healthy Babies"

Note:The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 9 December 2013

Shocking revelations from Britain of a mother giving birth to a perfectly healthy girl - after being advised by doctors to abort what they wrongly diagnosed to be a brain damaged baby, has called into question the quality and competence of medical counselling offered to pregnant mothers.

Speaking from his office in Rome, veteran Italian politician Luca Volontè, Honorary President of the European People's Party in the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly and Dignitatis Humanae Institute Chairman, stated:

"This situation is tragic but sadly not surprising. In what must be a time of terrible anguish for the parents, all efforts must be made to offer extensive information and a variety of opinions - such neutral advice does not exist in Britain, nor in many other European countries. Companies such as Marie Stopes International are referred to for counselling directly by the NHS, while other genuinely independent organisations such as disability groups - those without a financial interest in selling abortions - are prevented from doing so.

"This particular case also demonstrates the subjective reasoning being made by medical staff on what constitutes 'life worthy of living' - a value judgement that many patients will often believe to be infallible , but as this case shows, patients should not be afraid to assert their autonomy on the best course of action."

Liane and Ian Stooke from Bristol were told by doctors their baby would suffer from severe brain damage and have little to no ability of recognition, communication or movement. Liane was already 30 weeks pregnant - beyond the normal limit for abortion - when doctors pushed for termination, stating her baby would not enjoy a meaningful life. "The doctor said it wasn't too late if we wanted to abort the baby - he made it sound almost as if there was no other option," said Mrs Stooke. Thankfully for baby Miley, Ian and Liane chose to defy such encouragements and proceed with the pregnancy, only to discover their daughter was perfectly healthy and suffered from none of the afflictions predicted by doctors.

Luca Volontè concluded:

"Evidently the support structure in place for parents in this position is not fit for purpose. How many times has this occurred? Why aren't such figures even recorded? Sadly, in 2011, the British Parliament rejected proposals from Nadine Dorries MP to increase the range of opinion and expertise available to pregnant mothers for counselling. I can only offer sympathy to all would-be parents across the world, who having aborted their own child under similar advice, now have to live with the doubt of what might have been, the doubt that they entirely unnecessarily terminated their longed-for son or daughter."

The Dignitatis Humanae Instituteaims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: "False Charity Not To Excommunicate Visibly Pro-Abortion Politicians"

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 03 October 2013

Commentating on the heated debate on whether Holy Communion should be withheld from Catholic politicians who support abortion or euthanasia legislation, Luca Volontè, a Catholic Italian statesman with 20 years of experience affirmed: "It is simply a falsehood to believe one can readily divorce one's faith from personal involvement in public policy. To do so is to fail both God and one's neighbour, and stand complicit in grave sin. The Church teaches that pro-abortion politicians have already automatically excommunicated themselves ("latae sententiae"). It is therefore an act of false charity not to make this situation publicly manifest, because it deprives the person of receiving the most serious warning that they need to correct their behaviour, thus leading him/her into the erroneous belief that the Church might tacitly support such legislation."

The comments follow an interview from His Eminence Cardinal Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court position in the Vatican. In the interview with The Wanderer, the Vatican's most senior American spoke of the inability to reconcile pro-abortion Catholic politicians with their worthiness to receive Holy Communion: "it is a contradiction, it is wrong, it is a scandal, and it must stop! We live in a culture with a false sense of dialogue - which has also crept into the Church - where we pretend to dialogue about open and egregious violations of the moral law."

Despite vociferous criticism from the liberal commentariat of this dogmatic approach, Cardinal Burke, who also serves as the President of the Advisory Board of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, simply reiterates Church teaching as found in Canon Law and outlined by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith by the then Cardinal Ratzinger in Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion: General Principles. The memorandum states: "Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person's formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church's teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist."

In Ireland, the Catholic priests who have followed the memorandum's directives in response to the recent legislation sanctioning abortion have been met with howls of outrage from culpable Irish politicians who seek to divest themselves of their faith and moral responsibility whilst engaged in politics. Mr Volontè noted, "As Catholics in public office, often faced with the seemingly overwhelming pressure to submit ourselves to the party whip, we should in that moment seek inspiration from St Thomas More, the patron saint of politicians, who demonstrated with his life that God and morality cannot be separated from man and politics; "man is created by God, and therefore human rights have their origin in God, are based upon the design of creation and form part of the plan of redemption. One might even dare to say that the rights of man are also the rights of God." "

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: DHI Warns G20 Summit: "Blood for Blood" is no Pathway to Peace in Syria

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 6 September 2013

 

Speaking in Rome for his hopes of a genuine political effort to end the Syrian conflict, Luca Volontè stated: "The proposals for outside military intervention currently debated within Western media circles and the corridors of power promise an increase to the kill count whilst offering no applicable roadmap to a cessation of the conflict.  The calls for stand-off missile strikes represent the misguided thinking of 'something must be done, this is something, therefore we must do it.'  These reprisals will only add to the distress of a besieged population, blood for blood is not the solution to the Syrian conflict."

Noting the breakdown of communication between key UNSC power-brokers, Mr Volontè appealed for both sides to re-engage in negotiation: 

"Rather than an upsurge in intra-state warfare, efforts would be far better concentrated on assisting the displaced refugees and redoubling efforts towards a political solution.  An attempt to end this war by military victory for either side will only lead to violent reprisals against the vanquished and the descent into never-ending sectarianism.

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute appeals and adds its voice to His Holiness Pope Francis in calling for a ceasefire and the return to peace talks.  The international community has a pivotal role to play in bringing both sides back to the negotiating table in an effort to find a workable political solution."

Luca Volontè also expressed concern for the two arch-bishops, Paul Yazigi and Yohanna Ibrahim, who remain missing following their kidnapping.  The overwhelming majority of rebel-held territory is now ruled under Shariah Law, and the hunting of Christian clergy has become widespread.  Under Islamist rule, any Christian found within this territory is now required to pay the jizya, a punitive fine dealt against non-Muslims.  Mr Volontè noted; "Until anarchy and Islamism give way to pluralism and stability, the overlooked human tragedy of Syria's Christians will continue to until their elimination."

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Luca Volontè rallies millions of supporters to defence of the traditional family

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 26 May 2013

In a letter to the millions of French citizens who comprise 'Manif pour Tous' (March for All), the Hon. Luca Volontè, president of EPP-ED group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, lauded this momentous breakout of grassroots support for the traditional family and their willingness to stand up and be recognised. While admitting of the great hardships to come in this "battle for civilisation", Mr Volontè reminded his French audience of the words of Paul Claudel, "Pour se poser, il faut s'opposer!" - "If you want to count for something, stand up and be counted!"

In describing the upsurge of grassroots campaigners as "the most beautiful surprise of Europe this year" Mr Volontè painted a stark picture of the generational struggle underway: "In recent months, from the UK to Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, many believers and non-believers, Christians and Muslims alike, have descended to the streets with the courage to protest against the laws and policies of governments that seek to change society and our very human nature. In recent months, it seems to be politically incorrect to affirm the simple truth of the facts, the truth of human life, the truth of all ages, the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, truth of the family founded on the love of a father and mother, truth of the freedom to express their own religious beliefs in public."

As opposed to the authoritarian nature of their detractors, Mr Volontè praised the restrained, peaceful courage of March for All, "Your daily presence in public places with candles, your silence for reflection and prayer are the most resonant sound you could give the French government. A silence that can move mountains and ideological preconceptions throughout France and across Europe."

Striking back at the violence brought to bear upon such protesters, the Italian politician decried the creeping censorship being embedded throughout European nations, and highlighted the police repression witnessed so recently in France against large-scale, peaceful demonstrations: "Many of us are still horrified by the violence of the police in different countries of the world...so today, in this civilized Europe, images of unprecedented violence against children, parents, young people and priests in France are not provided by the public and private television."

Yet in spite of these struggles, the letter was filled with hope and encouraged the many millions, hailed by one commentator as a "formidable and diverse mass of people" to draw strength from their unity, and evoke the memory a France's former heroes: "From Scandinavia to Hungary, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands to Bulgaria, a secular and Christian people, Jewish and Muslim rises to defend his convictions and affirm their dignity. You are not alone, I tell you with strength! You have shining examples before you, who defended the unity and sanctity of the French nation, from St. Joan of Arc to Jacques Maritain, Charles Peguy and today many other brave promoters of the truth of man."

Luca Volontè concluded with G.K. Chesterton's prophetic words of a hundred years ago: "Fires will be kindled to testify that two and two make four. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer. We shall be left defending, not only the incredible virtues and sanities of human life, but something more incredible still, this huge impossible universe which stares us in the face. We shall fight for visible prodigies as if they were invisible. We shall look on the impossible grass and the skies with a strange courage."

Speaking during his visit to France, Luca added "I would like to thank the leaders of Mainf pour Tous for inviting me to their manifestation, it is a great honour and a great sign of our close friendship."

[Letter translated from original French, which can be read here]

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: UK: "Creeping Towards Liberticide"

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 20 January 2013

Step by step, with each successive loss at whichever court of appeal, the freedom of Christians to act in accordance with their faith and their conscience is being steadily but systematically eradicated within the United Kingdom.  The latest demonstration of this destruction can be seen in the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in four separate cases of British Christians; each sanctioned differently by their employer in a way which would have been unacceptable had they been a follower of any other religion.

The cases of Nadia Eweida and Shirley Chaplin concerned the freedom to wear a crucifix in the workplace. In one pyrrhic victory, the Court deemed that British Airways did indeed infringe Mrs Ewieda's rights.  Conversely and contradictory, Mrs Chaplin's choice to wear a crucifix at work was denied on health and safety grounds, despite evidence given that exceptions had been made for employees of other faiths, and no risk to safety could be proven.

Freedom of conscience was dealt two blows in the cases of Lillian Ladele and Gary McFarlane.  Mrs Ladele, a civil registrar for ten years, saw the conditions of her work change dramatically when homosexual civil partnerships were made legal in 2004. Islington Borough Council sought to make an example of her, and subsequently dismissed her from work.  Similarly, Mr McFarlane had gone to his superiors to express his doubt (not refusal) of his own ability to provide therapy for same-sex couples.  Rather than seeking to accommodate Mr McFarlane, his employers dismissed him for gross misconduct.

In both these cases, the practice of reasonable accommodation was entirely possible.  Accommodations within the workplace are commonplace for a wide-ranging variety of reasons and indeed other councils and employers have shown the broad-minded maturity to do so.  Despite this, the Court ruled that dismissal was a 'proportionate' measure for failing to adhere to what it called, ironically, equality and diversity policies.

In response to the court rulings, Founder of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, Benjamin Harnwell, spoke of the far-reaching consequences:

"The cases of Mrs Chaplin, Mrs Ladele and Mr McFarlane exacerbate what is already becoming common practice throughout Britain, an enforced curtailment of the liberty of Christians to act according to their own religious conscience in the workplace.  This slow creep towards 'liberticide' has risen to the point where people of specifically Christian faith are not merely treated with hostility but now met with instant dismissal.

"There is now a disturbing paradox being exercised in Britain; that in the name of plurality and tolerance, the previous custom of accommodation is being replaced with a legal requirement to adhere to a monopolistic secular conformity.  The precedents set here will surely open the doors to further attacks against the Christian conscience within the workplace, namely the freedom of pro-life medical practitioners to refuse to perform abortions.  We must now hope and pray that if these cases are taken to appeal before the Grand Chamber, those entrusted with the responsibility to defend religious freedom, enshrined by Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights, will not make a further mockery of the human dignity that God has entrusted them to protect."    

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: French Government: we will "dissolve" "religious pathology" and "excesses" in the Church

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 6 January 2013

The liberties of French Christians have long been in a perilous state, however now the recently elected Socialist Government is set to impose a new form of secularist surveillance upon the Church and lay organisations, seeking to discover and 'dissolve' any potential cases of what it deems 'religious pathology.'

The month of Advent saw a disturbing spate of attacks and desecrations of Christian icons and buildings across France; from the burning of a Nativity scene in Savoy, statues decapitated in Frejus and Churches attacked in Mayenne and Soissons. Yet rather than defend the religious liberty of her persecuted people, the French government is pushing ahead with a further curtailment of religious expression.

Announced by President Hollande, the new 'the National Observatory of Secularism' will come into being this year, tasked with closely monitoring religious organisations for any potential 'excesses.' French Interior Minister Manuel Valls highlighted various Catholic organisations, stating that "All excesses are being minutely registered in case we have to consider dissolving it."

This aggressive form of imposed laïcité is coupled with the proselytization of what the Socialist education minister Vincent Peillon called a 'secularist morality' within the state education system. This compulsory form of re-education will seek to remove any ethics other than the core, secularist, tenets of the Republic. The Federation of State School Parents has already protested against what could be viewed as child indoctrination.

In response to these worrying trends, Benjamin Harnwell, Founder of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, warned of the dangerous precedents being created:

"The French government has already defied its own constitutional courts on its tax policy and now seeks to redefine its notions of justice and due process. A government that can predetermine your guilt before any actual crime has even been committed, based solely on a supposition of religious belief, has abandoned any claim to being a pluralist democracy and has become something far more sinister. This disturbing move marks yet another descent in a country which already heavily curtails the universal right to public displays of religious expression."

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Investigation Announced into Notorious UK Death-Acceleration Programme

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Investigation Announced into Notorious UK Death-Acceleration Programme

London, 27 October 2012

After months of refusal and prevaricating, a probe has finally been announced into the conduct of Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP); a framework widely criticised by families whose relatives have unknowingly been placed on this 'pathway to death.'

 The Association of Palliative Medicine has ordered the review into the concerns. The National End of Life Care Programme, an NHS affiliate, will coordinate several organisations in the review.  While critics welcomed this initial step, the move falls short of the Government Inquiry recently called for by the Reverend Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark.

LCP is a framework used to dictate the withdrawal of palliative care from those who are seen as close to death.  This includes the withdrawal of nutrients and medicine from the patient, heavy doses of morphine and consequently dehydration.  Such a practice is questioned by the Medical Ethics Alliance, who asserts that any such decision is essentially a prediction, with no conclusive scientific evidence.  This is highlighted by the case of Andy Flanagan, whose family revived him, rescued him from LCP and brought him home to live for a further five weeks. 

The protestations of the Flanagan family added to the many complaints against LCP.  The Royal College of Physicians has uncovered that up to half of families are not informed their loved ones have been placed on LCP.  In particular, when Mr Cooper (pictured) discovered his wife had been condemned to LCP without his knowledge, medical staff refused to reverse the decision in spite of his wishes.  

It has also been noted that the number of patients placed on LCP has doubled in the past two years.  Critics have suggested hospitals are beginning to use LCP as a cost-cutting measure, against patients who are made to feel like a burden to society.

Speaking on behalf of the British Parliament's Cross-Party Working Group on Human Dignity, Jim Dobbin MP, its Vice-Chairman, asserted the necessity of this investigation: "We would do well to recall the words of Pope John Paul II - 'A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.'  The practices of Liverpool Care Pathway are surely not the best we can do for the elderly and the dying of our society, there is no dignity in the deaths proscribed here.  Such decisions as to the best care must always be made by the loved ones and families of the patient; Liverpool Care Pathway has resoundingly failed on this account and should certainly be investigated for it."

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Scrap Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Nirj Deva MEP: Scrap Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws

European Parliament, 5th September 2012

Jesus Christ instructed his followers to remember these words: "No servant is greater than his master: if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."  The truth of this warning has sadly never been more undeniable than in our present age, where in some countries today the very law itself gives itself as a pretext for persecution.  

The persistent violence and waves of terror currently waged upon Pakistan's besieged Christian population has today led the Dignitatis Humanae Institute to renew its calls for the Pakistan government to end its so-called "blasphemy trials".  

Christians in Pakistan have long lived under an unrelenting reign of persecution, yet the recent rise of injustices against Christians has caused many to despair for any future improvement under the current conditions.  In the last month we have seen the three-week holding of Rishma Masih in a high security prison and refused bail.  A young Christian girl with Down's syndrome, her alleged crime was the burning of the Koran; which now appears to have been a false allegation concocted by the local Imam.  While Rishma may be spared the death penalty, there is still the murder of an 11 year old Christian boy, Samel Yaqoob, to be resolved, his body found burnt, tortured and mutilated.

At the heart of many of these cases is Pakistan's continued enforcement of the blasphemy law - a legal framework with which the Islamic agitators in the country use to terrorise Christian communities for their refusal to adhere to Shariah Law.  A license to incite violence, the law is responsible for many attacks on those accused; only this July a defendant was lynched by a mob who stormed the jail.  

Today, Nirj Deva MEP, President of the International Committee on Human Dignity, called in the name of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute on the Pakistan government to put an end to the blasphemy prosecutions: "The great nation of Pakistan was the dream of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, who envisaged a state where people of all religions would be free to live in peace.  It is lamentable that this pioneering vision has been seemingly forgotten and suppressed in today's Pakistan.  The current blasphemy law and the safety of Pakistan's Christian minorities are not compatible, as the case of the two children Rishma and Samel and countless other examples sadly demonstrate, and I would therefore urge the Pakistani government to continue the work of the martyred Shahbaz Bhatti and bring an end to these blasphemy prosecutions; all the communities of Pakistan deserve better than this current state of perpetual fear."

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

Cardinal Martino and Lord Alton Unite in "Compassion" Plea for Blind Lawyer Chen

Note: The following is a press release in it's entirety from Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Rome, 30th April 2012

Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Honorary President of the Rome-based Dignitatis Humanae Institute and Lord Alton, Chairman of the British Parliament's Cross-Party Working Group on Human Dignity, today met to discuss the situation of blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng.

The self-taught lawyer, who sought sanctuary in the US Embassy in Beijing over the weekend after escaping six years of house imprisonment, remains separated from his family, members of whom have been taken into custody.

As talks between Chinese and US officials continue, Lord Alton urged China to show compassion on humanitarian grounds for Chen and his family, and asked for them all to be allowed to leave for the United States, to receive medical treatment (as previously happened with the case of Fang Lizhi):

Lord Alton said: "Chen Guangcheng and his family have a number of well-known medical issues that would reasonably justify a decision, on humanitarian grounds, to allow them to travel to the United States or Europe for medical treatment."

Despite losing his sight at an early age, Chen Guangcheng managed to teach himself law and has become an international icon in his native China, and around the world. After a period in prison ended in 2010, Chen remained under house arrest until he fled to the US Embassy for sanctuary on 22 April.

Cardinal Martino added: "With a decision on Chen's future likely to be decided in the next week, the Dignitatis Humanae Institute appeals for compassion and mercy for Chen and his family."