A Global Call to Action: Addressing the Plight of Persecuted Christians
In a world where the freedom to worship is increasingly under siege, a Pennsylvania state senator is taking a stand. Sen. Doug Mastriano is poised to introduce a resolution decrying the “worldwide persecution of Christians,” labeling it a dire “human rights catastrophe” that in many cases borders on “religious genocide.”
Highlighting the alarming statistic from Open Doors, Mastriano’s Oct. 20 memo illuminates the plight of more than 380 million Christians worldwide who face a gamut of threats ranging from imprisonment to systematic suppression of their religious practices.
“This persecution takes many forms — imprisonment, forced conversion, mob violence, and systematic suppression of worship,” Mastriano noted, adding that the persecution’s aim is globally consistent: to stifle the Gospel and obliterate its followers.
Within the resolution, Mastriano seeks to condemn the persecution of Christians, emphasizing the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan as instruments of terror. He recounts instances such as the devastation in Joseph Colony and Gojra City, and the more recent attacks in Jaranwala in 2023 where mobs destroyed over 20 churches and numerous homes.
One section recalls the horrific events in Quetta, April 2018, where gunmen launched a lethal attack on a Christian family and later, motorcyclists opened fire outside a church in Essa Nagri, tragically killing several individuals.
In Pakistan, as the resolution highlights, young Christian girls face grim realities of abductions, forced marriages, and conversions, with advocates for justice often encountering threats or worse.
The resolution also casts a spotlight on China, citing the government’s aggressive measures against faith, including church demolitions and AI surveillance, which are part of a broader effort to “wage open war on faith itself.” Additionally, networks of “house churches” have faced raids, closures, and further restrictions.
In Haiti, lawlessness prevails as gangs engage in the burning, looting, and abduction of clergy, turning once-vibrant Christian institutions into targets of violence, including a notorious kidnapping incident at a Christian orphanage in Port-au-Prince.
Meanwhile, Nigeria experiences the most severe persecution worldwide, with thousands of Christians killed annually by groups like Boko Haram. The resolution stresses the tragic toll this has taken on communities, where countless murders and village destructions have left a trail of devastation.
Mastriano’s call to action seeks to reinforce Pennsylvania’s solidarity with persecuted Christians and urges decisive measures by the federal government, including the recognition of Christian persecution as a genocide and implementing “targeted sanctions” against oppressive regimes.
Quoting William Penn, Mastriano invoked the spirit of true godliness as a force for positive change in the world. As reports of intensified persecution mount, the resolution’s push aligns with findings from the International Society for Human Rights, who announced the significant rise in Christian persecution at a recent press conference in Berlin.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
