Press Release

Published 25 August 2006 Author: FSPC – Communication

Religious symbols in public: first exchange in the Council of Religions

The Swiss Council of Religions (SCR) met for its first session on Monday 21 August 2006. In addition to the open question of the representation of women on this body, the main discussion was about dealing with religious symbols in public.

Cross, kippah, headscarf, church bells and minarets are the subject of debates and legal judgments. For the first time, the supreme representatives of Christians, Jews and Muslims have carried on a discussion about the use of religious symbols in public. This first exchange was mainly concerned with an order of presentation. Religious symbols belong among the forms in which religious faith is expressed. They must therefore be treated with respect: they may not be ridiculed or misused as battle symbols against human dignity or other religious convictions. Freedom of religion is a great good which is worth protecting: it allows the churches and faith communities in our country to cultivate their faith both individually and in community. This also includes giving public expression to their convictions through religious symbols. The principle that possible misuse should not prevent good use should apply. However, readiness for dialogue and time for the building of mutual trust is needed on all sides.

Public reactions to the foundation of the Swiss Council of Religions were largely positive. However, some organizations complained that the council was exclusively composed of men. So the Swiss Council of Religions has once again discussed thoroughly the question of the representation of women. In the discussion the members of the council stated:

In principle both men and women can work together in the SCR. According to the current conception it is composed “of leading and mandated persons from the participating churches and faith communities”;
The reason for the lack of women representatives in the SCR is that at the moment no presidium in the institutions taking part has a woman in it;
The mandate and composition of the SCR was resolved on by the leading bodies of the church communities taking part. Therefore the members of the SCR cannot themselves decide on an expansion.

The Swiss Council of Religions has therefore resolved to invite the governing bodies of the churches and faith communities concerned to make a statement on the question of a composition of the SCR which does justice to the sexes.

Theme page: Council of Religions

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