Courses for Christian Girls in Pakistan

Again and again in the Gospel, there are women who approach Jesus with the boldness of a strong faith and ask for His help. Indeed, the woman with the issue of blood even believed that merely by touching His garment, she would be healed. And so, it was.

Still today, women come to Jesus to seek His help and protection, not least in Pakistan, where Christian women are doubly discriminated against — both as women and as Christians. Christians are already on the bottom rung of society and subject to constant pressure to convert to Islam. On top of this, Christian women are seen as easy prey for sexual assaults, abduction, and forced marriage, and are threatened with false accusations of blasphemy against the Quran or the prophet Mohammed — which would mean years in prison or even the death penalty. In fact, such incidents are now on the rise, the Pakistani bishops report.

“The deep scars inflicted on souls can last for generations,” says Father Bernard Emmanuel of the bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission. To help, women are being offered specialized training to protect young women and girls from the danger of such a fate. This includes information and awareness-raising courses via the Internet, and various other events and initiatives are also being planned.

We are offering $23,700 to help the Church in Pakistan in its battle against this threat of forced conversions and “marriages” of young women — which not infrequently involves girls even as young as 12.

Will you join us in helping them?

328-00-49