Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

Connect

Christian persecution continues unabated

By

A Coptic Orthodox bishop surveys a damaged church in late August in Minya, Egypt

Almost 1,700 years after the Edict of Constantine granted freedom of worship to Christians, persecution of the followers of Christ continues unabated. Speaking before an international conference on religious freedom in Rome, Pope Francis observed that “persecution of Christians is stronger than it was in the first centuries of the Church, and there are more Christian martyrs than in that time.”

Coptic Christians in Egypt are under siege. The Nigerian terrorist group known as Boko Haram has kidnapped hundreds of school girls in an effort to close Christian schools. Christian families in Pakistan have recently been freed from two decades of slavery in a Muslim-run brick kiln. Meanwhile, Christians in areas of Iraq overrun by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syrian fighters are in fear for their lives. And, China continues to harass and suppress Christians.

Last January, a Pew Report on Religious Hostility showed that Christians continue to be the world’s most oppressed religious group with persecution against them reported in 110 countries.

“Religious freedom,” the Holy Father emphasized, “is not simply freedom of thought or private worship. It is the freedom to live according to ethical principles, both privately and publicly.”

“Reason,” Pope Francis said, “recognizes that religious freedom is a fundamental right of man, reflecting his highest dignity, that of seeking the truth and adhering to it, and recognizing it as an indispensable condition for realizing all his potential.”
We must never take our religious freedom for granted, but be constantly vigilant lest it be taken from us bit by bit.

Image credit:
A Coptic Orthodox bishop surveys a damaged church in late August in Minya, Egypt.(CNS photo/Louaf i Larbi, Reuters) (Dec. 9, 2013)

 

 

A new Age of Martyrs

By

St. Cecilia

Yesterday Pope Francis speaking to the people in St. Peter’s Square said , “let us think of the many Christian brothers and sisters who suffer … Let us admire their courage and their witness. They are our brothers and sisters, who in many parts of the world suffer for being faithful to Jesus Christ. Let us extend our heartfelt and affectionate greetings to them.”

Last week Cardinal Dolan speaking to the American bishops said, “Brother bishops, our legitimate and ongoing struggles to protect our ‘first and most cherished freedom’ in the United States pale in comparison to the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) currently being walked by so many of our Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, who are experiencing lethal persecution on a scale that defies belief. If our common membership in the mystical body of Christ is to mean anything, then their suffering must be ours as well.”

Blessed John Paul II said we are living in “a new age of martyrs.” It has been estimated that half of all Christian martyrs were killed in the 20th Century. More than 1 million people have already been  killed because of their belief in Jesus . Others than Christians suffer persecution, Buddhists, Jews,  Muslims, Hindus, Bahais and other groups are also persecuted, but  Christians are singled out more than others.

Christians in the Middle East are particularly vulnerable, those living in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Those living in the Far East, China, Pakistan, India and Indonesia have all suffered martyrdom as have many in Africa. Traditionally Christian nations like France and Canada are restricting the use of religious symbols and the wearing of religious garb. According to Pew Research, religious persecutions and government restrictions on religion are increasing each year.

St.Paul wrote, “God has so constructed the body …so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer.” (1 Cor 12:24ff)

We must guard and treasure our religious liberty in America but reach out to our brothers and sisters who regularly face harassment and even death because of their faith in Jesus.

Below is a link to Cardinal Dolan’s address:

http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/usccb-general-assembly/2013-november-meeting/farewell-presidential-address-cardinal-dolan.cfm

Image Credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP on Flickr – This celebrated sculpture of St Cecilia (Martyr, 2nd Century), as she lay incorrupt in her tomb, when discovered in 1599 is by Maderno.

Pope Francis to G20 leaders

By

Pope Francis Prayers for SyriaPope Francis Prayers for Syria

Amid the myriad voices addressing the Syrian crisis, one that has been drowned out by the din is that of the Holy Father. He wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin, president of the G20 countries presently meeting in Russia.

Pope Francis wrote: “The meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the 20 most powerful economies, with two-thirds of the world’s population and 90 percent of global GDP, does not have international security as its principal purpose. Nevertheless, the meeting will surely not forget the situation in the Middle East and particularly in Syria.”

Noting that, “It is regrettable that, from the very beginning of the conflict in Syria, one-sided interests have prevailed and in fact hindered the search for a solution that would have avoided the senseless massacre now unfolding.” The Pope went on to address, “the leaders present, to each and every one, I make a heartfelt appeal for them to help find ways to overcome the conflicting positions and to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution.”

Adding, “Rather, let there be a renewed commitment to seek, with courage and determination, a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation of the parties, unanimously supported by the international community.”

Addressing the problem of thousands of refugees who have fled Syria, the Holy Father reminded the international leaders that, “All governments have the moral duty to do everything possible to ensure humanitarian assistance to those suffering because of the conflict, both within and beyond the country’s borders.”

In his message Pope Francis reminds us all that the question should not be “what is the proper military response” but “what is the humanitarian and pacifist response” that will address the continued suffering of the Syrian people and begin the search for peace.

The Holy Father has called on Catholics around the world to join him Saturday, September 7, to fast and pray for peace in Syria.  Several of our parishes in the Diocese of Dallas will pray together as church communities on Saturday.   I hope you will call your parish to see what is planned.  You can also visit www.cathdal.org for prayers, readings and other resources.  The important thing is that we all lift our voices to God and pray for peace.

Image Credit:  CNS photo/Paul Haring

Persecution of Egypt’s Christians

By

Persecution of Christians in Egypt

In the midst of the political turmoil in Egypt, the fact that Egyptian Christians are being blamed for the troubles and made the scapegoats by extremist supporters of deposed President Morsi has been lost to many. The data concerning attacks on Christian Churches and individual Christians indicate the fear that permeates the Christian community in Egypt.

Last week the Asia News reported these incidents of attacks on institutions and individuals:

  • 14 Catholic churches and convents
  • 35 Orthodox and evangelical churches
  • 9 other Christian institutions
  • 58 Christian homes
  • 85 Christian-owned shops
  • 16 Christian-owned pharmacies
  • 3 Christian-owned hotels in Upper Egypt
  • 75 buses and cars with Christian occupants

Included in the reports are seven dead, 17 kidnapped and hundreds injured. In the absence of protection by the authorities, Egyptian Christians and many of their Muslim neighbors have taken to guarding the Churches.

Extremist violence against Christians in the Middle East is not new. Recall the attack on the Syrian Catholic cathedral of Baghdad in 2010 in which dozens of people were killed and injured, among them two priests and a group of faithful gathered for Sunday Mass. There was another attack on Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt, on January 1, 2011. Twenty -three people died as a result of that incident and 97 more were injured.

Eastern Christianity is little known to most Americans and is sometimes confusing.  Paulist Father Ronald G. Robertson offers the following explanation of the four distinct Eastern Christian communions: (1) the Assyrian Church of the East, which is not in communion with any other church; (2) the six Oriental Orthodox churches, which, even if each one is independent, are in full communion with one another; (3) the Orthodox Church, which is a communion of national or regional churches, all of which recognize the Patriarch of Constantinople as a point of unity enjoying certain rights and privileges; and (4) the Eastern Catholic churches, all of which are in communion with the Church of Rome and its bishop. (Eastern Christian Churches)

Christianity was born in the Middle East and until the 14th Century had a powerful presence throughout Asia. It became Eurocentric by default as Asian Christianity was all but extinguished by the dominance of Islam.  Eastern Christian Churches today, other than the Orthodox, are but remnants of a golden age.

In June, Pope Francis spoke about his concern for Eastern Christians noting that “So many brothers and sisters live in a situation of insecurity and seemingly interminable violence which does not spare the innocent and most helpless.” He renewed his call to “the leaders of nations and of international organizations, to believers of every religion, and to women and men of good will to put an end to all suffering, to all violence, to all religious, cultural and social discrimination.”

We share the pain with our Eastern Christian brothers and sisters, as we share their suffering, for as St. Paul wrote of the Body of Christ, “If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.” ( Cor 12:26)

A Papal plea to Christians and Muslims

By

Pope Benedict XVI addresses youth in Lebanon

Amidst the tumult and chaos of the Middle East Sunday, Pope Benedict  XVI in Lebanon, called upon an audience of Muslim  and Christian youth “to live in unity and harmony,” reminding them that  “you are the future of this fine country and of the Middle East” and that young Christians and Muslims must “seek to build it up together.”

[Read more…]

Whither the Arab Spring?

By

During my visit to Ireland for the Eucharistic Congress my blog will consist of some instances of attacks on our religious liberty both here and abroad as recorded by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Amid the current turmoil in Egypt in might be well to see how Egypt’s ancient Christian community is faring. My earlier blogs on attacks on our religious freedom have been historical. This blog and the previous one are not history, they are current events.

[Read more…]

CHRISTIANS STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE IN IRAQ

By

During my visit to Ireland for the Eucharistic Congress my blog will consist of some instances of attacks on our religious liberty both here and abroad as recorded by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. My earlier  blogs on attacks on our religious freedom have been historical. This blog and the previous one are not history, they are current events.

[Read more…]

When the law makes following Scripture a crime

By

You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt.y I, the LORD, am your God. Leviticus 19:34

During my visit to Ireland for the Eucharistic Congress my blog will consist of some instances of attacks on our religious liberty both here and abroad reported by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. My previous blogs on attacks on our religious freedom have been historical. This blog and the following one are not history, they are current events.

[Read more…]