VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Monday again pressed the international community to do something about the killing of Christians in several parts of the world and not “look the other way.”
He has been increasingly vocal about the fate of Christians being targeted by Islamic extremists in parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Addressing pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter’s Square, Francis praised those who were “sensitizing public opinion about the persecution of Christians in the world.”
While not suggesting any particular course of action, he urged “concrete participation and tangible help in defense and protection of our brothers and our sisters, who are persecuted, exiled, slain, beheaded, solely for being Christian.”
The pope was building on his Good Friday denunciation of what he then called “complicit silence” about the targeting of Christians.
“They are our martyrs of today, and they are many. We can say that they are more numerous than in the first centuries,” Francis said.
“I hope that the international community doesn’t stand mute and inert before such unacceptable crimes, which constitute a worrisome erosion of the most elementary human rights. I truly hope that the international community doesn’t look the other way,” the pontiff said, speaking from a window of the Apostolic Palace.
The advance of Islamic State group fighters has forced members of ancient Christian communities to flee their homes in Iraq.
Francis has been keen on ensuring these Christians feel the Vatican’s concern.
On Easter, a Vatican cardinal, Fernando Filoni, celebrated Mass in a Kurdish area of Iraq, and a day earlier, led prayers in a tent in a refugee camp in Irbil.
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It took nearly 500 years, over 1 million people kidnapped, over 400 battles initiated by attacking Muslim Jihadis before a Pope called on Christians to respond back in the 11th century. Isis is still in its first full year. I’m glad they aren’t waiting as long this time around.
And Christians discriminate against other people , especially LGBT .
I’m missing substantiation on this whole whoopie cushion. I want some FACTS … some irrefutable, proof-positive, twenty-seven 8 x 10 colored glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explainin’ what each one is (sic) - thank you, AG - DNA-tested, Fact-Checked, Certifiably Platinum true incidents in this country that are physical discrimination against christians. I mean, ALL of them, not just the loudmouths.
Not this whining, crying victimization slobber f0x lobs over the fence every five minutes. Where are the stormings of churches and bombings of parishioners houses and cars? When did a lifeguard “refuse service” to one that was drowning? If I decline an invitation to a BBQ to meet-and-greet a pack of jeebus freaks, is that discriminatory? No, I don’t want to be there. Period.
Show me the protest(er)s. Show me the “after” pictures. Let me see the nooses and victims. Let me see the signs. It may happen locally in a small way. I want evidence that this isn’t some phony cloudburst. It’s sickening.
How about just killing the bigoted Christiansts? That be OK?
Until the United States destroyed the secularist government in Iraq and is currently complicit in the on-going destruction of the secularist government in Syria, such attacks against Christian communitys in the Middle East did not occur.