Religious Freedom Under Threat: Experts Sound Alarm at Berlin Conference

At a recent conference held alongside the Berlin Ministerial of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), experts highlighted the increasing challenges faced by individuals who hold traditional beliefs on marriage, family, and gender in Europe and North America. The IRFBA, a coalition of countries committed to advancing global religious freedom, requires its members to adhere to its Declaration of Principles.

The event, titled “FoRB and Tolerance for Tradition: The Challenge for the Pluralistic West,” drew participants from Asia, America, and Europe. It focused on the risks traditional believers encounter in expressing their views, particularly in societies where such beliefs are seen as controversial. According to experts, those who express traditional religious views often face career setbacks, legal actions, or are pressured into self-censorship.

Anja Hoffmann, Executive Director of the Observatory on Intolerance Against Christians in Europe, described the current climate as a “serious threat” to religious freedom. She emphasized that expressing traditional views on marriage and family can end political careers or result in legal proceedings. “The peaceful expression of personal religious beliefs has become the potential end of a political career or employment, or even the beginning of a court case,” she said.

Dr. José Luis Bazán, a legal adviser for the Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), warned of what he termed “polite persecution.” Citing Pope Francis, Bazán argued that societal and legal pressures are making it increasingly difficult for Christians to live according to their faith in modern liberal societies.

In response to these challenges, Todd Huizinga, Senior Fellow for Europe at the Religious Freedom Institute, announced a new declaration aimed at supporting religious freedom, which will be submitted to IRFBA member states. The declaration seeks to strengthen protections for those holding traditional beliefs and promote tolerance and mutual understanding. “We believe this statement could have a real effect not only in safeguarding religious freedom for all, but also in increasing mutual understanding, tolerance, and peace in our pluralistic societies,” Huizinga stated.

Márk Aurél Érszegi, Hungary’s Special Advisor for Religion and Diplomacy, called for the preservation of regional traditions to protect against what he referred to as “ideological colonization.” He argued that safeguarding cultural differences is essential for maintaining a balanced society.

Dr. Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, underscored the need for reconciliation between religious freedom and other societal values. She stressed that religious freedom does not conflict with other rights, but rather, the two can coexist. “We need to find ways to reconcile religious freedom with our other values—because they are reconcilable and do not stand against each other,” she said.

The event was co-organized by several non-governmental and governmental organizations, including COMECE, the Observatory on Intolerance Against Christians in Europe, the Hungarian State Secretariat for the Aid to Persecuted Christians, and the Religious Freedom Institute. These organizations are working to address the increasing challenges that traditional believers face in Western societies, advocating for protections that ensure the free practice of their faith.