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“Tell the world what is happening to us”: Christians are increasingly threatened around the world, warns ACN

2022-11-23T16:09:13.858Z


Emblematic buildings such as the Basilica of Montmartre will dress in red on the occasion of “Red Wednesday”, an initiative launched by international associations of Churches in distress.


At 8 p.m., this Wednesday, November 23, the basilica of Montmartre will light up in red.

At the same time, a hundred churches in France will ring their bells in homage to persecuted Christians around the world.

Unlike previous years, the choice was made to "

make the voice of those who are voiceless heard

" thanks to the bells and not to spread a red adornment on French churches, because of energy savings.

Since 2015, this initiative, dubbed "

Red Wednesday

", or "

Red Wednesday

" abroad, has been launched by international associations of the Church in need (AED in France).

Last year, around the world, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Saint-Etienne Cathedral in Vienna and even Christ the King in Portugal dressed in red for this week at the end of November.

Read alsoChristians more and more persecuted in the world

“We want to shout to the whole world not to forget our Christian brothers in distress,

begs Benoît de Blanpré, director of the AED in France.

Whenever I go to visit oppressed Christians, they alert me “tell the world what is happening to us!”.

They experience the oblivion of which they are victims as an additional penalty.

In 2021, nearly 6,000 Christians were killed for their faith, 24% more than in 2020

.

At the top of the macabre ranking, Nigeria, Mozambique, Afghanistan, where the disciples of Christ were forced to flee under pressure from the Taliban.

In Africa, jihadism and religious persecution

Twelve months later, the situation has not improved, it has even deteriorated, warns Benoît de Blanpré.

According to the latest ACN International report, Christian persecution has increased in 75% of the 24 countries surveyed.

More than half of the world's population lives in a country where people experience violence or inequality because of their faith.

Three regions are “

particularly worrying

, notes Benoît de Blanpré:

Africa, Asia and the Middle East

”.

The first suffers from the growing advance of jihadist forces, whether or not affiliated with the Islamic State.

For example, in Burkina Faso, Christians suffer repeated attacks from Boko Haram;

in Mozambique, it is Islamic terror that kills blindly.

Read alsoAnti-Christian acts on the rise

For the 2022 edition, ACN wishes to focus on the situation experienced in Nigeria.

"

Priests can no longer stay in presbyteries because they are important targets,

" says Monsignor Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, the archbishop of Kaduna, a city in the center of this country, which has 46% Christians, 46% Muslims.

In four years, 8 of our priests, a large number of catechists and an incalculable number of lay people, have been kidnapped or killed.

»

Read alsoIs the Christian religion "the most threatened in France"?

Coming to Paris for the occasion, the man of the Church wants to carry the voice of his faithful in Europe so that it finally comes to the aid of his brothers who, according to him, are suffering a "

genocide

".

Pentecost 2022 witnessed a violent attack in a church in the south of the country, until then rather spared from the resurgence of violence, costing the lives of more than 40 people.

In Asia, towards cultural and religious unification

The other point of attention raised by the ACN is the deterioration of the conditions for exercising the Christian religion in Asia, particularly in North Korea, China, India and Pakistan.

"

Authoritarian regimes establish a religious nationalism that sets aside Christians who do not share the state religion

", continues the French president of the AED.

On Chinese and North Korean lands, it is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to live one's faith, contrary to the values ​​transmitted by the communist regime.

India has seen 710 incidents of anti-Christian violence between January 2021 and early June 2022, often instigated by Hindu nationalists.

Read alsoIn India, Christians under Hindu threat

In Burma, the army has renewed its attacks on Christians, after a lull during the administration of Aung San Suu Kyi's party.

The military junta is now targeting anyone perceived to oppose its 2021 coup. In Egypt and Pakistan, Christian girls are routinely victims of kidnapping and systematic rape.

Finally, at the center of international concerns between 2015 and 2018, Eastern Christians suffered, according to Benoît de Blanpré, "

a real haemorrhage

".

Formerly 10% of the Syrian population, Christians represent only 2% of this country plagued by war for seven years.

I am a happy bishop even if I live in fear

”, concludes Monsignor Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, who welcomes the “

Red Wednesday

” operation.

He hopes in this international mobilization an “

opening of consciences

” and European financial support directly for the African Church, and not towards governments often plagued by corruption.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-11-23

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