April 24, 2012 – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, April 24 … Libna Stevens/IAD/IRLA
Paulo Tort Ortega, director general of religious affairs in Mexico, spoke earlier today at the 7th World Congress, affirming his government’s commitment to protecting the religious freedom rights of its citizens.
“In Mexico, we have separation of church and state and there is freedom of belief and freedom of worship,” said Ortega. “However, we see these freedoms to be part of two rights that fall under religious liberty.” Ortega explained that Mexico’s legislative assembly has approved inclusion of this concept in the constitution, pending final approval from all the states in the nation. He also commended the work of the IRLA in Mexico for encouraging dialogue between religions and with the federal government.
Ortega is one of a number of regional government officials attending the three-day event. Others include Senators Aurekio Iragorri and Charles Schultz, both from the Republic of Colombia, Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte of Curacao, and The Honorable Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Bahamas.
