Be Informed
The complexities of the issues at hand should not stop us from moving forward to offer help, prayer, action for those in need. But the complexities need to be recognised and respected, and our discussions nuanced.
This section offers articles which provide information, reference points, interesting angles and balanced perspectives to assist conversation and discussion in parishes. |
Open Doors USA 2017 Watch List
The 2017 World Watch List ranks the top 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. More...
The Center for Study of Global Christianity Report on Christian Persecution
In 2016, a Christian was killed somewhere in the world every six minutes - about 90,000 Christians were killed for their faith. More...
Religious Freedom in the World Report 2016
The report is the 13th edition from Aid to the Church in Need, produced every two years. The report assesses issues relating to religious freedom for all faith groups in 196 countries. This report issued on 24 November 2016 covers the period from June 2014 - June 2016. More...
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) 2016 Annual Report
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report in May 2016. “By any measure, religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault since the release of our commission’s last Annual Report in 2015,” it stated in the opening paragraph. More...
Syrianrefugees.eu provides an interactive timeline displaying key events unfolding in the Syrian refugee crisis. More...
Excerpt from a lecture by Cardinal Walter Kasper for The Spirit of Catholic Renewal, at Durham University Nov 2015. (The Tablet— 14 Nov 2015)
"Not the least important aspect of the ecumenical movement was that it was prepared in the last century during dark times under totalitarian systems. In the concentration camps, in the gulags, Christians of different Churches were united in common resistance against inhuman systems; enemies became friends. Today all churches are confronted with new persecution of Christians. Persecution does not discriminate between Catholics, Protestants or Orthodox: Christians are oppressed, persecuted and murdered because they are Christians. Thus the 20th and 21st centuries have given rise to an ecumenism written not in printer's ink but with the blood of martyrs. Therefore, for the sake of world peace, and the salvation of mankind, it is our sacred duty that we do not come to accept division between Christians. We should work together for the good of all mankind. In this sense, working together brings us closer together. Mercy for a world that suffers can and should move our hearts to go ahead."
Why don't we hear about persecuted Christians?
Opinion piece on ABC/The Drum by Dr Natasha Moore, a research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity — 1 Aug 2014
The author argues that the widespread persecution of Christians often goes unreported by journalists, not because of a conspiracy of silence but because they are not adequately educated in religious issues to be able to grasp the historical, geographical and denominational complexities of Christianity and how they factor into global conflicts. False assumptions arising from their own cultural and historical baggage with Christianity often thwarts the ability of western journalists to recognise the horrific religious persecution of Christians. More...
Forgotten Religions in the Middle East
National Geographic - Oct 25, 2014
This interview is with an author and former UN diplomat who spent several years in remote corners of the Middle East. He talks about forgotten minority religious groups, and why it is important that we remember them. More...
The Plight of Egypt's Copts
Article by Samuel Tadros, Senior Fellow Hudson Institute — 14 July 2014
The Copts represent the Middle East’s largest Christian population, and were once one of the pillars of early Christianity, with some of its early saints framing what it meant to be Christian. However, centuries of persecution and struggles for survival have left Copts a small minority in their homeland. Modernity brought new challenges to the community, though it removed the legal second-class status in which Copts lived in the Middle Ages. In recent years Copts have come under increasing pressure due to the discriminatory policies of successive governments, as well as violent attacks by their fellow citizens. More... Since this article was written Coptic suffering has been magnified by the actions of ISIS. See also by this author, "Placing ISIS' Persecution of the Copts in Context" (18 March 2015).
Religious Persecution is Not a Contest
From Eureka Street — 7 Nov 2012
A brief article by Andrew Hamilton reminding us that the Middle East is a complex place and that one should avoid simplistic narratives about the cause of persecution of Christians, but rather strive for nuanced perspective. A lot has happened in the Middle East since this article appeared, but the point remains relevant. More...
The 2017 World Watch List ranks the top 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. More...
The Center for Study of Global Christianity Report on Christian Persecution
In 2016, a Christian was killed somewhere in the world every six minutes - about 90,000 Christians were killed for their faith. More...
Religious Freedom in the World Report 2016
The report is the 13th edition from Aid to the Church in Need, produced every two years. The report assesses issues relating to religious freedom for all faith groups in 196 countries. This report issued on 24 November 2016 covers the period from June 2014 - June 2016. More...
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) 2016 Annual Report
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report in May 2016. “By any measure, religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault since the release of our commission’s last Annual Report in 2015,” it stated in the opening paragraph. More...
Syrianrefugees.eu provides an interactive timeline displaying key events unfolding in the Syrian refugee crisis. More...
Excerpt from a lecture by Cardinal Walter Kasper for The Spirit of Catholic Renewal, at Durham University Nov 2015. (The Tablet— 14 Nov 2015)
"Not the least important aspect of the ecumenical movement was that it was prepared in the last century during dark times under totalitarian systems. In the concentration camps, in the gulags, Christians of different Churches were united in common resistance against inhuman systems; enemies became friends. Today all churches are confronted with new persecution of Christians. Persecution does not discriminate between Catholics, Protestants or Orthodox: Christians are oppressed, persecuted and murdered because they are Christians. Thus the 20th and 21st centuries have given rise to an ecumenism written not in printer's ink but with the blood of martyrs. Therefore, for the sake of world peace, and the salvation of mankind, it is our sacred duty that we do not come to accept division between Christians. We should work together for the good of all mankind. In this sense, working together brings us closer together. Mercy for a world that suffers can and should move our hearts to go ahead."
Why don't we hear about persecuted Christians?
Opinion piece on ABC/The Drum by Dr Natasha Moore, a research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity — 1 Aug 2014
The author argues that the widespread persecution of Christians often goes unreported by journalists, not because of a conspiracy of silence but because they are not adequately educated in religious issues to be able to grasp the historical, geographical and denominational complexities of Christianity and how they factor into global conflicts. False assumptions arising from their own cultural and historical baggage with Christianity often thwarts the ability of western journalists to recognise the horrific religious persecution of Christians. More...
Forgotten Religions in the Middle East
National Geographic - Oct 25, 2014
This interview is with an author and former UN diplomat who spent several years in remote corners of the Middle East. He talks about forgotten minority religious groups, and why it is important that we remember them. More...
The Plight of Egypt's Copts
Article by Samuel Tadros, Senior Fellow Hudson Institute — 14 July 2014
The Copts represent the Middle East’s largest Christian population, and were once one of the pillars of early Christianity, with some of its early saints framing what it meant to be Christian. However, centuries of persecution and struggles for survival have left Copts a small minority in their homeland. Modernity brought new challenges to the community, though it removed the legal second-class status in which Copts lived in the Middle Ages. In recent years Copts have come under increasing pressure due to the discriminatory policies of successive governments, as well as violent attacks by their fellow citizens. More... Since this article was written Coptic suffering has been magnified by the actions of ISIS. See also by this author, "Placing ISIS' Persecution of the Copts in Context" (18 March 2015).
Religious Persecution is Not a Contest
From Eureka Street — 7 Nov 2012
A brief article by Andrew Hamilton reminding us that the Middle East is a complex place and that one should avoid simplistic narratives about the cause of persecution of Christians, but rather strive for nuanced perspective. A lot has happened in the Middle East since this article appeared, but the point remains relevant. More...