Yet another report by an international advocacy group paints a bleak picture for Christians worldwide, and especially for the ancient Christian communities in the strife-plagued Middle East.
The group – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) – this week presented its research on the persecution of Christians, detailing what it calls the systematic violence against Christians throughout the world.
According to Alessandro Monteduro, the director of ACN, “…Three hundred million of our brothers in the faith are experiencing persecution in countries which, unfortunately, there is violence against religious freedom.”
He repeated that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. The 2019 ACN report, entitled “Persecuted more than ever: Focus on anti-Christian persecution,” provides glimpses of what it means for a Christian to live in a country where persecution exists.
In more than 20 countries around the world, with a total population of more than four billion people, participating at a liturgy, taking part in pastoral activities of a Christian community, exhibiting religious symbols or simply professing one’s faith, are actions that that can jeopardize one’s freedom, and even his or her life.