Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Munich (Agenzia Fides) – As they do at the end of every year, the Society of Pontifical Right Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), recalls the difficult situation in which Christians live in many countries of the world. Even today, many Christians are limited in practice their religion freely. Berthold Pelster, a member of the team of editors of the report on religious freedom that ACS publishes each year, in an interview to Fides sent from the German Office of Aid to the Church in Need makes an assessment of the situation.
"About two billion believers around the world are Christians and their number is growing especially in the Third World countries. This often creates a competitive situation in which other religious groups or politicians seek to limit this growth,” says Pelster, in reference to the fact that 75-85% of religious persecution around the world is suffered by Christians.
The ACN expert notes that today "there has been a decrease in the oppressive measures against Christians based on atheistic ideologies" like Communism, which was opposed to all religions, while there are "new ideologies that say 'yes' to religion, but only to one religion” and he recalls in this context, among others, the Muslim countries and India, where in some states, Hindu radical groups have managed to enact “anti-conversion” laws.
In regards to the world situation Berthold Pelster recalls the situation in Iraq, whose church, he says, is a "Church of Martyrs" and where "the future of Christianity is greatly threatened." He emphasizes that many incidents of violence against Christians in this year that is ending have been recorded in Pakistan, Egypt, and Nigeria. "In a less violent manner, there is also concern for the situation in Latin America where neo-Socialist governments act mainly against the Catholic Church," said Pelster, noting that "these are still only a few among the many crucial points." At the conclusion of the interview, Pelster warns: "In every case we must keep an eye on all these social developments since the restrictions of religious freedom are often just the first sign of major social problems." (MS) (Agenzia Fides 07/12/2009)
