Brooklyn, New York, November 7, 2008: Offering a glimpse into the lives of millions of victimized Christians, and featuring interviews with leading religious from many of today’s war-torn regions, Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for their Faith 2007-2008 newly released by Aid to the Church in Need tells the sad story of the often ignored suffering and persecution of Christians that is ongoing today.
Staggering Statistics Revealed: 550 Million Christians Affected
Today, more than 200 million Christians suffer for their faith, each day threatened with murder and other acts of violence. An additional 350 million Christians are thought to suffer lesser degrees of oppression, including discrimination and restrictions on the practice of their religion. These are just two of the staggering statistics included in Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for their Faith 2007-2008.
A Catastrophe Virtually Ignored
“The persecution of Christians in our world today amounts to a human rights disaster. It is a catastrophe that has been ignored by the media, almost as if a news black-out has been enforced. This book, Persecuted and Forgotten? which looks at those countries where Christians suffer for their faith, helps to redress the balance, putting on record the trials and tribulations people face for remaining true to their beliefs,” says Archbishop George Casmoussa of Mosul, Iraq, just one of many religious interviewed for this book.
The Church’s Survival Under Threat
The research, conducted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), an international charity which aids the suffering and persecuted Church, shows that, in the past two years, acts of violence and intimidation against Christians have intensified in 17 out of the 30 countries under investigation. The findings presented in the charity’s report show that the Church’s survival is now under threat in Algeria, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq and Palestine. Based on first-hand reports and interviews with leading clergy, the book highlights the way in which the rise of religious extremism, combined with nationalism, have marginalized Christians, who are often labeled as agents of Western interference. Covering suffering and persecution of Christians in countries such as China, India, Israel/Palestine and Pakistan, Persecuted and Forgotten? offers an overview of the situation for Christians in each country before detailing significant incidents of violence and intimidation as well as key pronouncements by political and religious leaders.
Report Release Information: This 112-page report is now available in paperback book format for a suggested donation of $15 by contacting ACN at 800-628-6333. Persecuted and Forgotten? is published by Aid to the Church in Need, its publication partly sponsored by a benefactor of the organization.
About ACN: Aid to the Church in Need was founded in 1947 by Father Werenfried van Straaten after he witnessed firsthand the ravages of war. The young Norbertine priest had a mission — to shed light on the suffering and persecuted of the world. For his lifelong commitment to the most vulnerable of God’s people, Father Werenfried was named an Outstanding Apostle of Charity by John Paul II. Now, more than 60 years later, ACN’s family of faithful continue to fulfill Fr. Werenfried’s mission.
Each year, under the guidance of the Holy Father and with the support of ACN’s benefactors, Aid to the Church in Need supports more than 5,000 projects in 145 countries across the globe. Our eight key programs are: Support of Formations, Distribution of Spiritual Literature, Construction of Churches, Transportation for Religious, Aid to Refugees, Care for Elderly Religious, Mass Offerings for Poor Priests, and Media Outreach.
