The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Argentina recently hosted a high-level visit focused on strengthening religious freedom, welcoming international and regional church leaders to its Buenos Aires headquarters in early May.
Dr. Ganoune Diop, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Jorge Rampogna, director of the same department for the South American Division, joined national and city-level meetings with Argentine officials. The delegation met with Pilar Bosca, director of worship for the City of Buenos Aires, and Guillermo Oliveri, secretary of worship for Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“These visits allow us to present the Church, share our message, and build bridges of respect and cooperation,” said Gabriel Cevasco, who leads the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department in Argentina.
The visit included the public conference “Religious Freedom: A Fundamental Right for All,” held at the Argentine Union headquarters. Attendees included church leaders, legal professionals, teachers, students, representatives of the Argentine Council for Religious Freedom (CALIR), and members of civil society.
In his address, Rampogna emphasized that religious freedom is a universal principle rooted in human dignity.
“A church should not control the government, nor should the government impose a religion,” he said. He underscored the biblical view that God respects human choice and highlighted the Adventist Church’s long-standing commitment to a healthy separation of church and state.
“The defense of freedom, mutual respect, and human dignity must be our priority,” Rampogna stated.
Diop expanded on this view, describing religious liberty as a multidimensional freedom encompassing thought, conscience, expression, and choice.
“Religious freedom is one of the pillars of human rights, alongside peace, security, and justice,” he said, referencing Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Human beings are sacred because they are temples of the Spirit of God,” Diop added. “No one should subject their conscience to another human being.”
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Diop holds a PhD in Old Testament Studies from Andrews University and has academic degrees in theology and philology from institutions in France and the United States. He also serves as Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA).
Diop noted the Adventist Church’s advocacy for religious freedom dating back to 1888, when it opposed U.S. legislation enforcing Sunday observance. Since then, he said, the Church has consistently defended religious liberty for all people, regardless of their beliefs.
“Religious freedom is an antidote to violence,” he said. “It is part of the image of God in the human person, and it is our duty to restore that dignity to all our brothers and sisters.”
The conference concluded with a call to action, reminding participants that freedom is not only a right to protect but also a responsibility to uphold through mutual respect, civic engagement, and a commitment to human dignity.
The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.
