Scottish Catholic Observer

The Scottish Catholic Observer has signed up to Aid to the Church in Need’s Solidarity campaign as the charity calls on people across Scotland to stand with persecuted Christians around the world.

ACN is asking people of all faiths and no faith, politicians, schools and young people to show solidarity with Christians who are being killed, tortured, forced out of their homes, persecuted or discriminated against simply for expressing their faith.

The campaign will reach a climax on June 11, with a national youth rally at Carfin Grotto, Motherwell, to which every high school pupil and university chaplaincy student has been invited to attend.

ACN works in 140 countries, helping Christians who are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. According to the International Society for Human Rights, 75 per cent of all religious persecution in the world is directed at Christians.

Whilst the high profile killing of Christians in Iraq and Nigeria has recently drawn attention, other acts of discrimination continue around the world with little attention, from North Korea to India, were the social system sees lower caste Christians persecuted for trying to educate themselves.

Michael Robinson, the communications executive for ACN Scotland, said that protecting persecuted Christians is a forgotten, orphaned right that is not being championed. “The solidarity campaign is a movement to say enough

Christians have been persecuted around the world so lets do something,” he said. “People are being persecuted for their beliefs going to the core of who they are. Some may disagree on their theology or philosophical point but they are humans and they want to live their life the way they want to.”

Amongst those already signed up to the campaign are Bishop John Keenan of Paisley and St Aidan’s High School in Wishaw, and Mr Robinson is hoping others will take up the cause by praying for the persecuted, fundraising for ACN, or liking and following the charity on social media.

“Liking us on Facebook might seem ridiculously simple but you or one of your friends might see something on our page and want to take action,” he said. “My argument is to people of all faiths and no faiths, politicians, churches and parishes, please follow the SCO’s example and the example of schools like St Aidan’s and pledge your solidarity.”

SCO editor Liz Leydon said: “The Scottish Catholic Observer supports Aid to the Church in Need in its work and backs this new campaign to pledge solidarity with persecuted Christians in the run up to the ACN youth rally. This campaign to raise awareness—especially amongst young people —is to be commended.”

— http://www.acnuk.org