Raymond Ibrahim’s fundamental new book Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians, has been widely reported, covered and praised and does not require an introduction, but it prompts a reflection. The problem of Christian discrimination and persecution by Muslims is in fact two problems. Like unpunished crimes’ victims who suffer twice, for the crime and for Read more
Pope Francis has told Christians to be joyful and not have a face that looks like “a pickled pepper”. Joy, he said, is a “pilgrim virtue” that moves Christians to journey out into the world, preaching the Gospel and proclaiming Christ. But when Christians have more of a sourpuss than a face that communicates the Read more
The kidnapping of two Orthodox bishops in Syria has caused alarm in Rome, where it is feared that Syria will become the next Iraq — with Christians once again becoming the primary victims of chaos following the disintegration of a police state. A Vatican spokesman called the kidnappings “a dramatic confirmation of the tragic situation Read more
Life has become so dangerous for Christians in Syria that they face the choice of trying to leave — in itself a difficult course of action — or being killed. That’s the view of the Maronite archbishop of Damascus, Archbishop Samir Nassar, who says defenceless civilians, both Christians and Muslims, are being killed each day by Read more
The number of Christians in the Palestinian Territories where Christ was born has halved since 2000, dropping from 2 per cent of the population to 1 per cent — a “social disaster” in the opinion of a researcher. And in Jerusalem there were 27,000 Christians in 1948, but today there are only 5000, according to Read more
More than 80 per cent of the world’s people identify with a religious group — but unbelievers, including atheists and agnostics, are now the third largest grouping. These results come from a new demographic study carried out by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Christians, with 2.2 billion or 32 per Read more
The once-in-a-decade transition of power in China, at the recent congress of the Chinese Communist Party, bodes well for Christians, according to the president of a Hong Kong-based information resource. “There’s a lot going on,” says Brent Fulton. “But … if political reform is able to move ahead, it should bode well for the Church. Read more
Representatives of Egypt’s three main Christian churches have jointly decided to end their participation in writing a new Egyptian constitution because it will not reflect the pluralistic identity of the Muslim nation. A primary concern is an article enshrining the “principles” of shari’ah law as the primary source of legislation. “The only ones who can Read more
The majority of Christians in Britain say they would not be offended by jokes about Jesus even if they were intended to be insulting, according to a poll. Meanwhile three quarters of believers agree that freedom of speech should not be restricted even if it offends people with deeply-held religious convictions. The finding emerged from Read more
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday told Catholics to rejoice, and not be jealous, when non-Catholics or other Christians do good. “God can do good and even amazing things outside the circle” of the Catholic Church, the pope said during his midday Angelus address. The pope quoted St. Augustine who said that just as there could Read more