Persecuted and Forgotten? Launch and Prayer Vigil for Martyrs
Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil in Iraq joins Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh and Aid to the Church in Need staff to launch Persecuted and Forgotten?
15 March 2011 19:00
Carfin Lourdes Grotto
Taylor Avenue
Carfin
Motherwell
ML1 5AJ
Hundreds of Scottish faithful turned out to help launch Aid to the Church in Need’s new report on Christians oppressed for thier faith, Persecuted and Forgotten?
The report reveals that Christians are the most persecuted religion in the world – with 75 percent of religious persecution being carried out against Christians.
It was officially launched to the press by Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil, Iraq, and Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh at an event in Glasgow on Tuesday, 15th March.
The report’s findings, labelled as “shocking and saddening” by Cardinal O’Brien, underline the words of Pope Benedict XVI, who at the beginning of 2011 said: “Many Christians live in fear because of their pursuit of truth, their faith in Jesus Christ and their heartfelt plea for respect for religious freedom.”
Read more and watch TV coverage of the press launch
In the evening, friends of Aid to the Church in Need were greeted by a piper in traditional Scottish tartan, and a harp player as they gathered for a prayer vigil at Carfin Grotto in Motherwell.
After taking part in the Stations of the Cross, guests heard Archbishop Warda give a frank account of the crisis Christians face in Iraq. Underlining the seriousness of the threat posed to the future of the Church in the Middle East, he said: “We wonder if we will survive as a people in our own country.”
The Archbishop also highlighted the importance of Persecuted and Forgotten? saying: “The Persecuted and Forgotten? report and the work of Aid to Church in Need are critical to us as members of the worldwide Christian community.
“This information will significantly contribute to building international support and solidarity for Christians around the world where our human rights and our religious freedom have been stripped away.”
You can request a free copy of Persecuted and Forgotten? – or find out more in our country profiles.