The Voice of the suffering and persecuted
Turkey’s invasion of northeastern Syria a blow against Christians
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With the Kurds now likely to engage Turkish forces in battle, Christians and other minorities are afraid they will be left without protection. This confrontation may trigger an exodus, further depleting the Christian population of Syria, which has already shrunk by 80% since the start of the country’s civil war in 2011.
Our Sunday Visitor: ACN Director of Outreach on impact on Christians of Turkey’s invasion of Syria
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President Donald Trump’s order to withdraw U.S. troops from northeastern Syria effectively greenlit Turkey’s invasion of the region. With this shift in U.S. policy, Turkey has been given an opening to reshape its borders and begin to carry out a multi-faceted strategy. As the crisis unfolds, one thing is clear: Christians and other minorities are again in the eye of the storm.
In Haiti, bishops ask government to quell ‘fratricidal warfare’
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Bishop Jean said that “despite our repeated pleas for nearly two years, Haiti’s politicians have not responded. In July 2018 we already had a big crisis and the government did nothing. But the other political parties should also work on a solution. The worst thing is that the different factions are not open to any dialogue.”
Amazon synod: ‘Indigenous peoples have had God with them for a long time’
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"We are going to have to ask for many prayers so that we can have the gift of discernment. We have considered the reality of the situation in Amazonia and have listened to the clamor of its peoples, who are expressing their unhappiness. Above all we will be listening to what the Holy Spirit wishes to say to the Churches in the Amazon region."
Church in India won’t give up ‘fight for equality, justice and fraternity’
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“We are not going to give up the fight for equality, justice and fraternity. We hope that Hindus and Christians will soon become more tolerant of each other and that the readiness to use violence will decline throughout the country."
In Pakistan, education holds the key for Christian social advancement
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"Muslims believe that converting one person to Islam earns them eternal life. If an initial effort fails, people turn to kidnapping. Kidnappings and forced marriages are most common in rural areas, where people have little education."
Archbishop condemns kidnapping and forced conversions of underage Christian girls
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He believes there is a religious aspect to the kidnappings, particularly as the girls are Hindu or Christian. Yet, the archbishop did not believe it was the only explanation. “It is lust. They think ‘she is pretty and I want her.’ It is a crime and it has a possible religious component too.”
Brother of kidnapped Niger priest still hopes for reunion
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The missionary said that he is living this first anniversary of his brother’s abduction “in a state of mind that cannot be put into words,” in a state of mind that cannot be understood except by someone who has “experienced this reality in his own flesh.”
In Burkina Faso, Islamists are ‘sowing terror,’ brutally targeting Christians
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"Many of the residents fled, while those who remained had to witness the terrorists assassinating three people, including a community leader named Jean-Paul who had chosen to stay on as leader and to organize prayer groups.”
Pope blesses Marian icon in support of campaign for Christians in Syria
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At Mass and during processions, the faithful’s prayers went out to those who were killed or abducted during the war and to their families. Some 2000 Christian families in Syria have lost one or more loved ones during the conflict and 800 families had a family member abducted.
