My dear friends,

In these times, when evil spreads its power over the world, and when tragedies and fratricidal wars follow one another unwaveringly, I would like to addresss you these few words, coming from the bottom of my heart of a Pastor. As a Catholic Bishop and consecrated religious, I have to tell you that I pray each day for my fellow brothers and sisters on earth, for their well being, their salvation.

My friends, we experince a very singular age, when good and evil are fighting a gigantic fight which makes us think I believe of the one on the end times, even though no one knows the day nor the hour when they will occur.

Certainly, however, we are living in a unique age in our history. The extreme invasion by evil, under all its forms, has struck our societies even in their most secret foundations.

Violence and immorality, apparently coming directly from the abyss, scenes of impurities, pointedly promoted among the youth, destruction of the family unit, odious practices towards children, child abductions, genetic engineering: all these shameful wounds, willingly concealed in the past, are now, on the contrary, exhibited in the open, exalted even, and they take on an importance never seen before.

They tell us that darkness is more luminous than light, that darkness is more attracting than light, and the youth, my friends, the souls of children let themselves be carried on, they let themselves be sullied, for they are unable to defend themselves.

So many harmful pictures seen on television and in the other media blur their eyes. We have noticed that around us on a daily basis, and even into the remotest places on the planet. The ravaging effects of our world, launched at full speed in its search for pleasures, reach all the way to isolated country places, to innocent populations, leaving behind but depravation and misery.

Education, and more especially religious education, is no longer dispensed as nourishment to young generations, nor to adults. Moral values are rejected, and that is why I believe that our world is going awry. We need religious guides, who may be tolerant and wholly dedicated to their task, in order to deliver a positive message, a message of Peace and Charity.

On the occasion of this important Congress on religious freedom in Budapest, I have the pleasure to give you these reflections, for indeed, my dearest desire is that our world may become again a little more religious, a little more sensitive to the great principles that rule any religion, and which usually are principles of Peace and Unity.

I strongly believe that religious Tolerance is a vector of Unity. Fraternite Notre Dame has set an example of inter-religious work. In our humanitarian missions around the world, in our orphanages, in our schools, etc., we work in very good relationship with spiritual groups from any denomination and any nationality.

For me, it is a pleasure to attends the needs of the poorest of the poor, alongside with Christian Ministers, persons with a Muslim or Jewish orientation, and organizations that perhaps have a creed or religious practices different from our own, but that work in the same direction, to go and help the most destitute.

Such collaboration has been taking place in the United States, in Africa (especially in Niger, with our Muslim friends), and elsewhere, but I regret to remark here that it is not the case yet in Europe, unfortunately.

Fraternite Notre Dame was originally initiated in France, about thirty years ago. It experienced very peculiar treatments in its foundations.

Created I would say through Divine Will, it experienced both the agreement and disagreement of the surrounding world, and in any case, it never treated anyone with indifference.

As a small group turned towards God and their neighbor, desirous to provide both spiritual and material comfort to those who suffer, either in their bodies or in their hearts, Fraternite Notre Dame experienced persecution from the very beginning, and if it were for a special protection from Heaven, I have to avow here that our Congregation would not have been able to stand up again after so many attacks.

Alas! Such attacks were coming from other religious, a certain clergy with bad intentions. Here I would like to read again with you Article 1 of the Declaration on the Elimination of ALL Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief " proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on November 25, 1981:

"Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching."

My friends, how pitiful it is that these fundamental principles of religious freedom, adopted over 20 years ago by the United Nations, are not being implemented, and most especially in Europe. On the contrary, it seems that an opposite radicalization has taken place towards religious minorities.

We tell you this with full knowledge of the facts, for too much have we been the victims of an insidious campaign, waged against our religious life and state. We have a lot to suffer because of it.

This open fight against religious minorities paralyzes and asphyxiates any expression coming from young religious communities. Every spiritual entity not yet recognized by the government or by major religious institutions, notably the Roman Catholic Church, are from the very fact included in the category of "Cults" and consequently threatened in their very existence.

Then every means is used to legally belittle these communities. A campaign of disinformation diverts well-intentioned persons, who are therefore given to hear but calumnies and transformations of the truth.

We are filled with consternation in front of such practices, and it is regretfully that we have to say that we are better welcomed and respected in other countries than in our very own. We firmly wish that this so called "cult-hunt" comes to an end, and that tolerance may finally develop under real forms, especially in France, in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

We are aware that many share these sentiments with us. Our wish is that legislations on religious matters be transparent, without a priori, with no discrimination, and be based on the full growth and development of spiritual values. We know that on the long term, the good deeds performed by religious minorities will be recognized and approved, maybe by those very ones that will have contested them for some time.

We are very glad to participate in this Conference today. Personally, I can see that a genuine force made of mutual comprehension and sharing animates everyone. Disparities do not set us apart, but to the contrary, they invite us to a constructive dialogue, in an age when Peace is for us so great a need.

Peace, this is truly my appeal today! Peace in the world, Peace among the Nations, Peace in Churches, in Synagogues, in Mosques and Pagodas, in disrupted families. Living separated, and with no sharing, leads to prejudice and the rejection of those who are weaker, at the social and religious level as well.

Therefore, let us work together, in order to move nearer together despite our differences, to better understand one another and better accept one another. Most of all, may each one reject any hatred from his or her heart, any threat, any sentiment of vengeance. May forgiveness give birth to life on the ruins. May Mercy cause Compassion and Love for the poorest of the poor to gush forth.

My friends let us work together for a better world, to bring about the Kingdom of God upon this poor earth. Be assured of my priestly and religious friendship for all of you!

[End of Statement]