Can God and Caesar Coexist?: Balancing Religious Freedom and International Law

Description

Father Robert F. Drinan—priest, scholar, lawyer, politician, activist, and ethicist—has spent his life working to strengthen human rights. In this important book, Father Drinan explores the state of religious freedom worldwide, arguing that international law and legal institutions have not gone far enough to protect religious freedom. The international community, says Father Drinan, has been slow to recognize the urgent need of balancing the requirements of a pluralistic society with the demands of religious freedom. Despite numerous proclamations from the United Nations and from individual nations about the importance of religious freedom, says Father Drinan, there is still no covenant, legally binding instrument, or world tribunal to monitor freedom of religion. Drinan explores the status of religious freedom in certain Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Communist societies whose doctrines may promote intolerance. And he asserts that the silence of international law allows nations to continue to punish persons who practice a faith viewed unfavorably by the government. Contents I. A New Global Right: Religious Freedom II. The Dimensions of the Freedom of Religion and of Conscience III. Religion in the Structure of the United Nations IV. Religious Freedom in the United States V. Religious Freedom and the European Court of Human Rights VI. Vatican II Vigorously Defends Religious Freedom VII. The Rights of Dissenters VIII. Religious Freedom and Issues of Gender and Sexuality IX. When Governments Repress and Persecute Religion X. The People’s Republic of China and Religious Freedom XI. Religious Freedom and the Muslim World XII. The World’s Jewish Community and Religious Freedom XIII. Questions of God and Caesar Appendix A. United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981) Appendix B. Vatican II Statement on the Jews Selected Bibliography Index