“Christianity is the world’s most persecuted religion”, a new study of religious persecution has said.
‘Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their faith 2013-15’, compiled by the UK branch of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), makes its finding based on an examination of some 20 countries, including those in the Middle East where the most high profile cases of anti-Christian persecution continue to take place. The report also offers personal testimonies of those who have suffered for their faith and those of local religious leaders.
Introducing the ACN report, its editor, Dr John Newton referenced the Middle East, saying: “Extremist violence has created a fear of genocide among Christian communities leading to an exodus of the faithful from large swathes of the Middle East.”
He continued: “It is devastating to see that in Mosul for the first time in 1,800 years there was no Sunday mass. Within five years the entire Christian people could be wiped out from Iraq. Huge numbers of Christians are being driven out from the Middle East, the very heartland of the Church. As Pope Francis has noted, our persecuted brothers are being decapitated and crucified for their faith, often with complicit silence.”
More broadly, of the 20 countries examined by ‘Persecuted and Forgotten?’, the report found that in 13 nations, the situation for Christians has worsened since the last ACN study of 2011-2013.
The Vatican has welcomed the release of the ACN report, issuing a statement which said: “His Holiness deeply appreciates the efforts of all involved in producing this report and in keeping before the world the plight and suffering of Christians persecuted for their faith. [the Pope] prays that those in positions of authority will diligently strive not only to eradicate religious discrimination and persecution in their own nations, but also to seek ever more effective ways to promote international cooperation in order to overcome these offences against human dignity and religious freedom.”
The ‘Presecuted and Forgotten? Report can be accessed at: http://www.acnireland.org/index.php/resources/persecuted-and-forgotten [1]