The Holy Land’s Christians have suffered a “disturbing rise” in attacks, including spitting, physical harassment, damage to property and cemeteries, and the disruption of services.  The findings are part of a report by the Jerusalem-based Rossing Center, called “Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem,” which examined the increase in hostilities toward Churches and their members in 2023.  Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Hana Bendcowsky from the Rossing Center categorized the problems faced by ...

As war rages on in the Gaza Strip, Christians in the West Bank and Jerusalem find themselves in an increasingly desperate situation. Reinhard Backes, the Middle East Project Consultant for international pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), reports on a trip to the Holy Land in July 2024, during which he and an ACN delegation met the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and many other local Christians.  ACN is standing with people in the Holy ...

Thanks to support from ACN, three members of the Missionaries of Saint Mary of Guadalupe are committed to serving indigenous communities in remote and forgotten regions.   “I don’t mind busting my sandals, Lord, in order to follow you and serve you,” says Sister Aura Marina López, one of the three Missionary Sisters of Saint Mary of Guadalupe, who work in Guatemala. And the fact is that these religious sisters do trek very long distances on unpaved roads to meet the ...

Plagued by gangs that plunder, kidnap, and terrorize, Haiti fights for its survival every day. In the midst of this violence, the Church remains a beacon of hope for the country, says Father Baudelarie Martial, a Haitian priest from the Congregation of the Holy Cross, who visited ACN’s international headquarters.  Gangs control about 80 percent of the capital and the main roads. What is the situation in Port-au-Prince in terms of security?  The situation in Port-au-Prince is unacceptable, intolerable, and ...

Bishop Tesfaselassie Medhin tells the international pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need about the human rights violations that occurred from 2020 to 2022, during the devastating war in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray, and particularly the sexual violence against women and girls. Parts of his diocese are still occupied, and many roads are insecure. In the accessible regions. the diocese is carrying out trauma-healing projects to help the many thousands of people whose lives are broken.  “During ...

In a joint statement, the Venezuelan Bishops Conference highlights the crucial role of the people in the elections scheduled for July 28th.  Venezuela is preparing for presidential elections in 2024 and legislative elections in 2025, both occurring in a complex political climate. As the vote on July 28th approaches, the Venezuelan bishops wished to “share some reflections about this political act, the deepening of democracy, and the people’s participation in the election.”  “The Venezuelan people have before them a new ...