WCC NEWS: Nobel Peace Prize affirms respect for human dignity WCC says

[WCC media <noreply@wcc-coe.org>]

>World Council of Churches - News

RECENT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AFFIRMS RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY WCC SAYS

>For immediate release: 14 October 2010

In a message concerning the recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize,
the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, World Council of Churches general 
secretary,
said the prize this year shows a strong message of support to all 
those
around the world who are struggling for freedom, development and the
dignity of all human beings.

>Tveit's message follows:

"It is heartening that Liu Xiaobo has been awarded the Nobel Peace 
Prize
for 2010. I consider this recognition of Liu Xiaobo to be an 
affirmation
and acknowledgement of growing respect for human dignity and freedom
around the world. It also signifies and underscores the essential
parameters that are needed to ensure development, peace and 
reconciliation
among peoples and nations.

Another Nobel laureate, Dr Amartya Sen, once described 'development as
freedom' and 'a process of expanding the real freedoms that people 
enjoy'.
Those societies that commit themselves to human dignity make the
possibilities of development and fullness of life available to all.

In order to achieve this potential, the human dignity of each 
individual
should be protected. Christian faith respects the dignity of each 
person
created in the image of God. Such core values are embodied in other
religious traditions as well as in secular philosophies. The awarding 
of
the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo is a strong message of support to 
all
those around the world who are struggling for freedom, development 
and the
dignity of all human beings. It reminds all of us that each one of us 
is
called to contribute to the common wisdom and understanding of what we
need as humanity."

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, 
witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship 
of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 
Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 
million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the 
Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse 
Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, 
Switzerland.

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