“For four years, since I became a priest in 2016, I have been burying my parishioners,” – Fr Ebute.
Asia Bibi, the first woman to be sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan, has called on the Prime Minister to help Christian girls in her country who are abducted, raped and forced to marry their captors.
“[Mr Pervaiz] has been in prison for seven years and [his children] haven’t been able to spend time with him. His youngest twins were born when he was arrested and he hasn’t held them in his lap or his arms,” said Mr Christopher.
"Two of us died in that prison," – Mr Arif.
“The international community must take immediate and decisive action to tackle the problems which are threatening the continuing Christian presence in Iraq,” said Neville Kyrke-Smith, national director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK).
“The persistent discrimination, persecution or even mass killings of religious and ethnic minorities makes protecting and promoting this freedom inside and outside the EU all the more essential,” said EPP Group chair Manfred Weber and vice-chair Jan Olbrycht.
Most people feel helpless against the armed extremists and all the more so at this time when all the emphasis is on the coronavirus pandemic – anonymous Burkinabe priest.
Why did [the NGO] discriminate against Christians? Are they not citizens of Pakistan? We are all suffering from COVID-19 – Adnan, a Muslim in Karachi, quoted by AsiaNews.
Are we in a war? Yes. But what would Christ have us do? The only way He has pointed out to us is the non-violent way. It is the road less travelled, but it is the only way, said Bishop Matthew Kukah.
“Western nations are not doing enough. They have shown that the resources of Africa are more important than the ordinary people," Bishop Kukah.
"These baptized are martyrs. They have not betrayed the Gospel," - Cardinal Sarah.
"Until the population dialogues with their children and gives me a written guarantee of the safety of the pastors who work for them, the parishes will remain without pastors,” - Bishop Nkea.
“Evidently, many of the Western powers have an interest in seeing the violence continue, and their profits are more important than our lives” – Bishop Kientega.
Eighty percent of all acts of religious persecution around the world today are being committed against Christians – Archbishop Eamon Martin.
Everybody will have an opportunity to have a direct encounter with witnesses — that is, people who have directly experienced violence in defending their faith — and that’s a rare opportunity for people in Ireland - Dr Michael Kinsella.
We will provide the opportunity for the faithful to gather as a community and pray not only for persecuted Christians – but also for the persecutors of Christians (ACN Ireland).
More than 245 million Christians live in a place where they experience high levels of persecution – IDOP.
International reports on religious freedom confirm time and again that Christians are the most persecuted group, says ACN.
New statue in Armagh Cathedral honours martyrs of the past, present and future.
With Christianity on the verge of extinction in its birthplace, it is time for concerted action that begins to turn the tide, says British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.
According to the Church in Chains Global Guide, the situation is noticeably worsening in India as Hindu extremists attack churches in rural areas every week and under President Xi’s religious clampdown in China.
ACN is running a Go2Mass campaign where Catholics go to an extra Mass to pray for one of the 200 million Christians who are facing the threat of persecution or even death for their faith.
The report states that every single day Christians suffer persecution for their faith – many of them are left with no choice but to flee for their lives.
“It is shocking to think that in 2017 thousands of Christians are still being persecuted, displaced or expelled, tortured, discriminated and murdered simply because they are Christian,” says Eamon Martin.
Standing up for your faith is not the stuff of ancient history. In Ireland, Catholics and Christians are entering a time when we will need the gift of courage to stay faithful to the teachings of the Gospel.
“People from abroad are often astonished at the level of antipathy to the Church displayed in our country.”
“We believe that by helping to resettle the most vulnerable, we are living out our Christian faith and ‘welcoming the stranger’ as Jesus has challenged us to do.”
“The world is watching as we abandon our commitments to American values. These actions ... lower our estimation in the eyes of the many peoples who want to know America as a defender of human rights and religious liberty”.
“The attack on Christians has been immense. Pray for their safety in this chaotic situation” - Chaldean Archbishop Bashar M. Warda told the UK-based Release International.
“In times of strength, of weakness and great persecution, we remained steadfast, thanks to the support and generosity of you and your ancestors, the people of Limerick.”
