Catholic League Endorses Bill Calling for Religious Freedom in Afghanistan

Today, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights issued the following press release:

March 30, 2006

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN AFGHANISTAN

Catholic League president Bill Donohue today endorsed legislation by Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick calling for religious liberty in Afghanistan:

“The idea that 500 Catholic priests, or Protestant ministers, or Jewish rabbis would assemble at a church or synagogue demanding the murder of a person who abandoned Catholicism, Protestantism or Judaism for Islam is unthinkable. But just yesterday, 500 Muslim clerics assembled at a mosque in Afghanistan calling for the death of Christian convert Abdul Rahman. Moreover, the idea that the U.S. Congress would condemn the release of an Islamic convert is equally unfathomable, yet the Afghan parliament wasted no time blasting Rahman’s release to Italy yesterday. As such, this issue is far from over.

“The Catholic League fully supports House Resolution 736 expressing the will of Congress that religious liberty be respected in Afghanistan. Introduced by Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick, the legislation denounces the unconscionable assault on Abdul Rahman’s religious liberties, and thereby commits American lawmakers to take a more active role in monitoring basic human rights in Afghanistan. To be plain, American troops did not lose their lives in Afghanistan so that Christian converts could be killed by the new government.

“The U.S. has yet to grant asylum status to Rahman, and has instead pretended that this is a parochial concern. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the other day that the issue of Rahman seeking asylum in the U.S. was ‘being handled as a private matter.’ It’s too late to call this a private matter—it involves American lives and money—and attempts to do so will be greeted by the American people with derision.

“We are delighted to note the courageous and timely response from Pope Benedict XVI on the matter of Abdul Rahman. The pope is a role model for the leaders of all nations.”

Previous Pro Ecclesia Posts on this Subject:
Abdul Rahman Update: Italian PM Berlusconi Says Afghan Man in Italy After Fleeing

Abdul Rahman Update: Afghan Christian Reportedly Freed

Pope Appeals for Afghan Convert's Life

Abdul Rahman Update: Case Dropped Against Afghan Christian

Abdul Rahman Update

Abdul Rahman Case Puts U.S. "Theocracy" Nonsense into Perspective

President Bush Weighs in on Abdul Rahman

Who Will Save Abdul Rahman?

Apostasy Case Raises Questions About "Islamic" Constitutions in Afghanistan and Iraq

Afghan Man Faces Death for Allegedly Converting to Christianity

Did 2000 American Soldiers Die For Islam?