Praying for religious tolerance
Countless lives have been lost to acts of religious violence throughout history. And still today the violence continues in different parts of the world.
These tragedies stand as a reminder of how deeply humanity suffers when compassion is replaced with intolerance. To remember the victims is to affirm not only their dignity but also the enduring value of peace, respect, and the sacred right of every individual to believe—or not believe—freely.
A foundational principle of Catholic social teachings emphasises the inherent worth and value of every human person, rooted in the belief that each individual is created in the image and likeness of God.
The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief will be held on Friday www.un.org/en/observances/religious-based-violence-victims-day
We will remember the victims who are often ordinary people: families gathering for worship, neighbours attending community events, individuals simply walking the streets of their towns.
Their lives were cut short because of the faith they practiced, or because they belonged to a community perceived as “different.” The brutality of such acts lies not only in the violence itself but in the attempt to strip people of their humanity, reducing them to labels.
Commemoration is more than remembrance. It is a commitment to keep alive the stories of those lost, to speak their names when we can, and to honour the values of compassion, justice, and coexistence that stand in opposition to hatred.
Each life taken leaves a void: a parent who will never return home, a child cheated of their future, and a community fractured. By remembering the victims, we recognise their presence as part of our shared human story, refusing to let them be erased by the very violence that sought to silence them.
We must also acknowledge the resilience of survivors and communities who, despite their grief, continue to gather, to pray, to sing, and to live in defiance of fear. Their courage is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for endurance.
Whether through education, dialogue, or acts of solidarity, we can create societies where diversity of belief is celebrated rather than feared. Religious violence thrives in environments of prejudice and ignorance. Therefore, we must remember so ‘silence’ will not enable repetition and that love may prevail over hatred.
May the memory of all victims of religious violence inspire us to choose compassion over division and understanding over intolerance. May their stories remind us of our shared humanity, and may we work tirelessly toward a world where no one is harmed for the faith they hold or the faith they lack.
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