All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1)

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. (Article 3)

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. (Article 18) – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (30 Articles)

Encounter (ABC Radio National) takes up this topic in a recent broadcast (31 January), In the Image of God: Human Rights and Religion.

As the debate over an Australian Human Rights act continues, Encounter explores some of the ideas which drive our modern, secular conception of universal justice and equality. While this owes much to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948, the ideas behind it lie at the ethical heart of all religious teaching. They’re deeply rooted in ancient religious and philosophical thought, and in the work of theologians from medieval times to the Enlightenment and beyond.

In 2009, Catholic Cardinal George Pell led a delegation of church leaders to Canberra to raise strong concerns about the impact of a national charter of human rights on religious freedom.

We strongly support human rights, but we don’t think a charter such as this is necessary or even effective in protecting the rights of the most vulnerable people in our community. It may in all likelihood make things worse, particularly in the area of religious freedom. (THE AUSTRALIAN, 23 October 2009, Clergy unite over human rights charter)

Listen to the Encounter broadcast, here.  Read THE AUSTRALIAN article here.