As people of faith, we know how important our own holy places are in our religious and communal lives. Each of our communities of faith has also experienced the desecration of spaces sacred to us. We know the intense pain that arises from that experience. It is out of this history that we condemn all violence directed against holy places even by members of our own communities. Protecting Religious Freedom Freedom of religion and of conscience, including the rights of religious communities within society, derive from and are rooted in the liberty of persons before God.
Religious freedom is realized through the exercise of specific rights.
Protecting religious liberty requires the efforts of many parties. Looking at our own task, we must do more as religious leaders to teach our fellow believers respect for people who belong to other religious traditions. Religious leaders should also take initiatives to foster a climate of respect. They must be ready to speak out against violations of religious liberty committed against people of other religions. We encourage religious bodies to institute regular programs of interreligious education, dialogue and exchange.