Christians are victims of unprovoked violence

Practically in every part of the world, Christians have become victims of unprovoked violence.

Nov 20, 2015

TIRANA: Practically in every part of the world, Christians have become victims of unprovoked violence. If some are directly targets of this violence, others are indirectly victims of subtle anti-Christian hatred. By and large, following the teaching of Jesus in his Gospels, Christianity champions the cause of mutual respect and interreligious dialogue and yet, there are about 100 million persecuted Christians throughout the world. (According to the World Evangelical Alliance, the problem has worsened dramatically since the turn of the millennium: about 200 million Christians are now under threat).

It is no time to seek refuge in fear and trembling. To resort to panic is unbecoming of us, Christians. I suggest:

1) Following some principles to be observed by every Christian believer in bearing witness to Christ’s Commission for evangelisation (Mt 28:19-20); There is the first ever endorsed document by a majority of Christians throughout the world, namely, Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World, Recommendations for Conduct (WCC, PCID, WEA, 2011).

2) We Christians should, together uphold Religious Freedom for all. Religious Freedom constitutes the very heart of human rights. Its inviolability is such that individuals must be recognised as having the right even to change their religion, if their conscience so demands.

3) Mutual respect for the dignity of every human person. Religious plurality is to be accepted and efforts should be made to promote “all positive and constructive in terreligious relations with individuals and communities of other religions, directed at mutual understanding and enrichment.”

The Pope St John Paul II warned, Either we learn to walk together in peace and harmony, or we drift apart and ruin ourselves and others. [We are] to be aware of the common origin and common destiny of humankind. Let us see in it an anticipation of what God would like the development of the history of humanity to be — a fraternal journey in which we accompany one another towards the transcendent goal which he sets for us.

“Dignity of the human person is “a transcendent value, always recognised as such by those who sincerely search for the truth.” Failure to respect this dignity leads to the various, and often tragic, forms of discrimination, exploitation, social unrest and national and international conflicts with which we are, unfortunately, so familiar in these times. Without the element of freedom, any definition of religion risks being dangerously restricted and weak. Respect for human dignity finds one of its expressions in religious freedom. “Religious Freedom, if it means the right to freely choose one’s beliefs about the meaning and purpose of life, is a fundamental freedom, arguably the most  important human right of all.”

Religious Freedom is not only about our ability to practise religion in the private sphere, it is also about whether we can make our contribution to the common good of all people in society. Without religious freedom properly understood, people of all religions suffer because they are deprived of  the essential contribution, especially by the Christians in the field of education, healthcare, feeding the hungry, giving voice to the voiceless in society.

Sadly, religious freedom in many parts of the world is in great peril. Unless believers of each religion, whether in majority or minority population, defend religious freedom robustly, no religion will escape the great plight that all religious believers face around the world. In India, assassinations, burning of sacred places, torching of religious institutions, etc., all these happen because systematic denials of basic human rights are found in the acts of persecutions, especially of Christians. -- AsiaNews

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