Christianity Today: spotlight on ACNUSA survey on anti-Christian persecution

THE COLOSSEUM in Rome was recently lit up the color of blood. “This is a symbol of the persecution of Christians in the entire world—those who suffer because of faith,” stated Alfredo Mantovano, president of the Italian chapter of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the global Catholic organization which sponsored the February 24 light display.Aid to the Church in Need supports the persecuted and suffering Church; it recently polled US Catholics on their views on global anti-Christian persecution

“We light up the Colosseum with red because their shed blood cannot leave us indifferent,” he stated. “We cannot wash our hands of the blood of this injustice as Pontius Pilate did 2,000 years ago.”

The reminder was a timely one for Catholics in the United States, according to a survey released this month. While 9 in 10 believe that persecution of Christians around the world is somewhat or very severe (51% and 40%, respectively), only half said they were very concerned (49%). Almost 1 in 5 said they were not concerned at all (18%). To read the full article, please click here.