"The Religious Liberty Law in Chile is an example for the other countries of Latin America," declared Spanish attorney and University of Madrid professor Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, a former associate director of the religious rights section of Spain's
“The Religious Liberty Law in Chile is an example for the other countries of Latin America,” declared Spanish attorney and University of Madrid professor Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, a former associate director of the religious rights section of Spain’s Ministry of Justice.
Dr. Martinez made her comment in a presentation on the opening day of the National Religious Liberty Congress held in Santiago, Chile, Aug. 26 and 27. The meeting brought together approximately 300 delegates from countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. The congress, an initiative of the Chilean branch of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), hosted representatives of Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, Jewish and Islamic faiths, as well as delegates from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“Inter-religious dialogue is the feasible route for peaceful coexistence in the world,” said Dr. John Graz, IRLA secretary general. He affirmed that dialogue opposes a path leading to religious exclusivism and totalitarianism, in which churches lose their independence. “Man was created by God as a free being. Man has to have liberty to choose the religion that he wants to follow. And this is also supported by Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Graz added.
Other speakers at the event—a first for Chile—included former Ambassador Robert Seiple, now a consultant to World Vision, based in Washington, D.C.; Senator Mario Rios Santander, who authored Chile’s religious liberty law; and Professor Camilo Cardoso, registrar of religious organizations for the foreign ministry of Argentina. Along with Dr. Graz, Dr. Eugene Hsu, a vice president of IRLA, spoke at the conference, held in the Congress Hall in Santiago.
The International Religious Liberty Association was founded in 1883 through the initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to defend the right of each citizen to choose and freely follow his or her religion. Today, the IRLA has offices or representation in approximately 200 countries, and national chapters and affiliated associations in 66 nations. To promote awareness and prevent problems of religious liberty, the IRLA holds meetings, seminars and regional congresses, such as the Santiago session. The most recent South American International Congress took place in Lima, Peru, in 2001.
Further congresses are planned for 2004 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and 2005 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Graz said, “South America has shown a strong interest in religious freedom these past few years.”
Pastor Guido Quinteros, president of the Adventist Church in Chile, coordinated the conference along with Pastor Bolívar Alaña, secretary of the church for that region. Professor Magdiel Pérez, dean at Chilean Adventist University, was general secretary of the event. On Aug. 29 a delegation of participants, led by Quineros and Dr. Graz, met with minister Francisco Huenchumilla Jaramillo, secretary general of the Chilean presidency at the Palace of the Treasury.
