Message from the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Japan:
Freedom of religion and separation of Government and Religion |
We firmly appeal for adherence to the principle of separation
of Government and
Religion, which guarantees freedom of religion as one of the basic
human rights
To Our Brothers and Sisters in the Church and To All People:
Introduction
 Two years ago, after 60 years from the end of World War II, we announced
the
message " The Road to Peace Based on Nonviolence", which
brought up various viewpoints
needed for peace building in modern society. In the message, we indicated
that it is
indispensable to strictly observe the principles of Article 20 of
the Japanese Constitution
"
separation of Government and Religion", and to respect freedom
of religion as one of the
basic human rights, reflecting on our past history. Looking at the
current situation in Japan,
however, the move toward constitutional amendment is accelerating
and Article 20 along with
Article 9 has been discussed as the subjects of constitutional amendment.
Under such
circumstances, some governmental officials are repeatedly making
comments contrary to the
principles of separation of Government and Religion of the current
constitution. Therefore we
would like to announce once again the thoughts of the Catholic Bishops' Conference
of Japan
regarding our critical issues, "freedom of religion" and "separation
of Government and
Religion.
The Catholic Church's thoughts on religious
freedom and separation of Government and
Religion
The separation of Government and Religion is
often misunderstood as "separation of
religious life and political activities", in other words that
the religious organizations and
individuals should not engage in political matters. However the principle
of the separation of
Government and Religion, which stipulates the relationship between
states and religious
organizations, does not prevents religious organizations and individuals
from announcing and
responding to political matters based on their belief. The Catholic
Church rather realizes that it
has important roles such as contributing to further spreading justice
and love at home and
abroad based on love of Christ (1), and making ethical judgment even
on political matters, if
needed for basic human rights and salvation.(2)
A
relationship between state and religious organizations has been built
up in the
particular history of each country reflecting the forms of separation
of Government and
Religion and the Concordat. Originally these forms came into effect
in modern times in order
to secure religious freedom as one of the basic human rights.
With
regard to religious freedom, the Catholic Church acknowledges and
regrets that
it lacked tolerance to others in its history of 2000 years.(3)
The
Church reaffirmed in the Second Vatican Council (1962~65) that religious
freedom is one of the basic human rights.(4) Every human as an individual
or a member of an
organization has freedom of religion as one of the basic human rights.
This freedom means that
regarding religious matters nobody will be enforced to act contrary
to one's conscience and
nobody will be prevented from acting according to one's own
conscience.(5) Public authorities
such as states should not invade or oppress this religious freedom
but rather have responsibility
to protect the freedom of religion.(6)
The
Church and states are mutually independent and autonomous and should
never
be commingled. The Church must not be restricted by states.(7) If
the Church and states
cooperate with each other in a sound manner, they will be able to
serve the wellbeing of all the
people.(8) The Church acknowledges the legal authority of states,
but if a policy of a state does
not follow the will of God, the Church will choose to follow God.
(9)
Religious Freedom in Japan
Looking
back on the past Japanese history of Christianity, it can be said
that the
persecution and suppression against the believers and religious organizations
by the state were
caused by lack of religious freedom, lack of the idea of separation
of Government and Religion
and that there was only conditional religious freedom even if it
existed.
In
the Azutchi-Momoyama Era and at the beginning of the Edo Era, Japan
advanced
toward centralization. Christianity was regarded as an obstacle to
such a move and was
gradually expelled by the policymakers. An enormous number of people
were martyred.
At
the beginning of the Meiji Era, Christians in Urakami of Nagasaki
region rose up
and declared their faith. Triggered by this incident, many Christians
suffered oppression from
the Meiji government. Criticized by the western countries about this
oppression, the Meiji
government, which was advancing toward modernization, included religious
freedom in the
Constitution of the Empire of Japan. However it was conditional " religious
freedom" as stated,
"Japanese subjects shall, within limits not prejudicial to peace and
order, and not antagonistic
to their duties as subjects, enjoy freedom of religious belief." (10)
While
Japan pushed forward vigorously into wars in the Showa era, the state
was
fully integrated with the national religion" Shintoism",
and people in not only Japan but also
the Korean Peninsula were forced to pay homage at shrines. The Catholic
Church was
questioned whether it was right for Catholic students to pay homage
at Yasukuni shrine. As the
government's control on religions tightened, it was such a
crucial issue upon which existence
of the Catholic Church in Japan was staked. Following the guideline
of Propaganda Fide in
those days, the Church acknowledged that the faithful paid homage
at Yasukuni shrine,
saying" The rituals that the government forced the students
to do at the shrine are not
religious,(11) but are "social courtesy" showing loyalty
and patriotism to the Japanese
Emperor." In this way the Church headed toward cooperating
in the war. After World War II,
however, the Japanese Constitution was enacted, the The State Religion
(State Shinto) was
dissolved so that Yasukuni shrine became one of the religious organizations,(12)
and the
Second Vatican Council was held. Passing through these events the
guideline of the
Propaganda Fide in those days can not be applied to the current situation
if it remains
unchanged.
After
World War II, Article 20 of Japanese constitution which specifies
freedom of religion and the principle of separation of Government
and Religion which guarantees religious freedom was enacted. Freedom
of religion was guaranteed completely
for the first time in the Japanese history by this article. This
Article 20 was enacted strictly reflecting on the fact that
the unity of the State and The State Religion (State Shinto) deprived
lives and basic human
rights of many people in Asia along with Japanese people.
Article 20. Freedom of religion is guaranteed to all. No religious
organization shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political
authority.
2. No person shall be compelled to take part in any religious act,
celebration, rite or practice.
3. The State and its organs shall refrain from religious education
or any other
religious activity.
We demand adherence to the principle of separation of Government
and Religion.
Freedom
of religion and separation of Government and Religion are inseparable
in
Japan. They are also deeply connected with freedom of thought and
conscience and freedom of
speech. In this sense, the article is not completely unrelated to
people with no religious faith,
not to mention people with religious faith.
Recently,
however, there are conspicuous opinions from the ideas that religious
acts
can be made by the State and public organizations within the limit
of "practices of social
courtesy or folkway". The new draft constitution (13) derived
from such an idea was
announced as well. This idea reminds us of Japanese history in which
many people were forced
to pay homage at Yasukuni shrine in the name of "social courtesy" before
and during the wars.
Additionally there are also proposals to regard Yasukuni shrine as
a defense of the nation's
political system or a non-religious organization. These trends possess
a danger to advance the
same roads as those of before and during the wars. These ideas insult
the principle of
separation of Government and Religion, and even jeopardize religious
freedom as one of the
basic human rights.
We, Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan firmly appeal for
adherence to the
principle of separation of Government and Religion, which guarantees
freedom of religion as
one of the basic human rights, because the principle is essential
for Japan to create peace with
other Asian nations.
February 21, 2007
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Cf: Number 76,"Gaudium et Spes" 1965
(2) Cf: The same as above
(3) Cf: Number 35, "Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio
Adveniente" of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II"
(4) Cf: Number 2, "Dignitatis humanae" 1965
(5) Cf: Number 2, The same as above
(6) Cf: Number 6, The same as above
(7) Cf: Number 2245, "Catechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae" 1997
(8) Cf: Number 2239, The same as above
(9) Cf: Number 11 "Dignitatis humanae" 1965
(10) Cf: Article 28, The Constitution of the Empire of Japan
(11) Cf: "Apostolicum In Iaponia, Circa Catholicorum Official
Erga Patriam" 1936
(12) During and before the wars the The State Religion (State Shinto)
as an entity which transcended the realm of
religions, was not included in the category of religious organizations.
(13) Cf: The LDP New Draft Constitution: Clause 3 Article 20, The
State and public organizations must not carry
out acts which educate in religion or any other religious activities
beyond the realm of social courtesy and
folkway, which have religious significance and which support, promote,
encourage, oppress or interfere in
specific religion.
|
