Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale328

Americans have always valued the ability to worship freely and in accor-

dance with their conscience. Alexis de Tocqueville, the French historian and

observer of American affairs, was fascinated with this aspect of the nation.

He remarked that this is a country in which religion and freedom are ''in-

timately linked'' in contributing to a stable democracy that fosters social

virtues and participation in the communal life of all its citizens. In urban

areas, it is common for individuals from different cultural backgrounds and

religions to engage with one another daily in commercial, social and educa-

tional settings. Today, in classrooms throughout the country, young Chris-

tians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and indeed children of all religions

sit side-by-side, learning with one another and from one another. This diver-

sity gives rise to new challenges that spark a deeper reflection on the core

principles of a democratic society. May others take heart from your experi-

ence, realizing that a united society can indeed arise from a plurality of

peoples - ''E pluribus unum'': ''out of many, one'' - provided that all

recognize religious liberty as a basic civil right.1

The task of upholding religious freedom is never completed. New situa-

tions and challenges invite citizens and leaders to reflect on how their deci-

sions respect this basic human right. Protecting religious freedom within the

rule of law does not guarantee that peoples - particularly minorities - will

be spared from unjust forms of discrimination and prejudice. This requires

constant effort on the part of all members of society to ensure that citizens

are afforded the opportunity to worship peaceably and to pass on their

religious heritage to their children.

The transmission of religious traditions to succeeding generations not

only helps to preserve a heritage; it also sustains and nourishes the surround-

ing culture in the present day. The same holds true for dialogue between

religions; both the participants and society are enriched. As we grow in

understanding of one another, we see that we share an esteem for ethical

values, discernable to human reason, which are revered by all peoples of

goodwill. The world begs for a common witness to these values. I therefore

invite all religious people to view dialogue not only as a means of enhancing

mutual understanding, but also as a way of serving society at large. By

bearing witness to those moral truths which they hold in common with all

1 Cf. Dignitatis Humanae, 2.