Venezuela’s first national association dedicated to the promotion and defense of religious liberty was launched on November 3 with the support and encouragement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Venezuela Religious Liberty Association was constituted at the Chamber of Commerce hall in Barquisimeto with more than 100 founder members present.

“More now than ever, religious liberty is a vital issue,” says Pastor Julio Palacio, leader of the Adventist Church in Venezuela. “We are delighted to be associated with the development of this new association dedicated to freedom of conscience and the right to the free exercise of belief. The Adventist Church has consistently been at the forefront in this area of human rights and we count it a privilege to support this cause in Venezuela.”

The intention is to gain full legal recognition from the national government as a civil organization dedicated to heightening awareness of religious liberty as a fundamental human right, reports Mario Nino, religious liberty director for the Adventist Church in the inter-America region.

“The promotion of the international norms of conduct and practice are an essential aspect of our perspective on religious freedom, which is based on Biblical principles of tolerance and mutual respect for the beliefs of all peoples,” comments Nino. “Our commitment is to a God of freedom who invites free choice and individual decisions regarding religious convictions.”

Dr. Brigido Barrios, a prominent lawyer from Caracas was elected president of the new association. His longstanding commitment to concepts of religious freedom is widely appreciated and he has written extensively on these issues, says Palacio. Barrios’ paper, “What is Religious Liberty?” will be available shortly in Spanish on the International Religious Liberty Association’s Web site at www.irla.org. The IRLA is the coordinating association for all such national religious liberty associations around the world.