The subcommittee has been purposefully narrow in its study of this question. We shall continue-I don't think any two Members in Congress are more identified with the human rights cause than Mr. Dymally and myself. We will continue to look closely at religious persecution.

Reverend BROUWER. May I comment on that?

Mr. BONKER. Briefly, then we have to vote.
Reverend BROUWER. Very briefly.

First, to express appreciation for what you and your subcommittee have done. I have done that in my statement. I am happy to say again, we are very grateful for that. We are pleading that there would be a recognition that the broader sense is also related to religious freedom. If we had time, we could go into the case of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, for example, which is a fundamental watershed for these decades and for this question, where the religious conviction and the political statement are inseparable, but the political statement is unquestionably rooted in the deepest religious conviction.

Mr. BONKER. I am familiar with his works.

Mr. COE. Very small comment. I think your sentence about the religious liberty-and these are two dimensions very deeply related. Religious liberty and civil liberty, they are inseparable.

Mr. BONKER. I don't question for a moment that they are not inseparable. We were looking narrowly at what constitutes religious persecution. I hate to bring this session to a close, because it is most illuminating.

I am going to adjourn the subcommittee and want to thank the witnesses for their excellent testimony, their frank response to the questions, and assure you that we are with you in this human rights cause.

[Whereupon, at 4:05 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned.]

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AS A VIOLATION OF

HUMAN RIGHTS

The Church in Latin America

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1982

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN Rights anD
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,
Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee met in open markup session at 2:30 p.m., in room 2255, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Don Bonker (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Mr. BONKER. The Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations will come to order.

President Wilson once noted that Congress in session was Congress in exposition while Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work. There are two resolutions that are pending before the subcommittee, and which we will bring up at this time.

The first is consideration and markup of House Concurrent Resolution 428, a resolution condemning all forms of religious persecution and discrimination as a violation of human rights.

Without objection, a copy of House Concurrent Resolution 428 will be included in the record at this point.

[The information follows:]

(685)

97TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION

H.CON. RES. 428

Condemning all forms of religious persecution and discrimination as a violation of human rights.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOVEMBER 29, 1982

Mr. BONKER Submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Condemning all forms of religious persecution and discrimination as a violation of human rights.

Whereas all member states of the United Nations have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the United Nations to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the "Helsinki Final Act") proclaim the principles of nondiscrimination and equality before the law and the right to freedom of thought, conscience, association, and religion or belief;

Whereas the United Nations on November 25, 1981, adopted a declaration against all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, noting that religion or belief, for anyone professing it, is one of the fundamental elements in his or her conception of life and that freedom of religion or belief should be fully respected and guaranteed;

Whereas the constitutions of most nations of the world specifically provide for the freedom of religion or belief and extend to the citizens of those nations the right to worship freely and the right not to be persecuted or discriminated against on the basis of religion or belief;

Whereas the disregard and infringement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience, association, and religion or belief have brought, directly or indirectly, wars and great suffering to mankind;

Whereas freedom of religion or belief cannot be fully exercised without the right of freedom of thought, conscience, and association;

Whereas the relationship between freedom of religion or belief and liberty and other rights is a reciprocal relationship;

Whereas freedom of religion or belief is treasured and deeply. rooted in the history and tradition of our own country and sanctified by the Bill of Rights;

Whereas the Congress condemns and continues to condemn all forms of religious persecution and discrimination wherever practiced, encouraged, or tolerated by national governments; Whereas testimony before the Congress has established that there is continuing manifestation of all forms of religious persecution and discrimination in different parts of the world;