Pope Francis calls on the world to address the growing problem of Christian persecution

Pope Francis has called upon all people of the world to take a stand against Christian persecution and to promote religious freedom around the world.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - During yesterday's general audience, Pope Francis urged people around the world to protect Christians from persecution and to support religious freedom. Pope Francis referred to the violence against Christians around the world as "absurd" and warned that it "does not show signs of stopping."

Around the world tens of thousands, if not hundreds, of Christians face persecution in some form or another. More martyrs are being created today than at any other time in Church history. Much of the violence against Christians is in the Middle East where Islamic terrorists are forcing people to convert or flee under threat of death. However, thousands of other cases of persecution are happening in other countries as well.

Here is how you can act now to save fellow Christians from persecution.

In Indonesia, for example, dozens of Christian churches are destroyed each year by Islamists, and because of strict laws that target Christians, they cannot be rebuilt. In other parts of the world, the persecution is "softer" but still present. Even in the United States, Christians are threatened with fines if they do not financially support morally objectionable medical procedures or serve homosexual couples who insist on moral recognition of their lifestyle. 

Pope Francis called for "all people of good will" to a "mobilization of consciousness" stating that Christians "have a right to find security and peace within their own countries while freely professing their faith."

In addition to Christian persecution, Pope Francis called for religious freedom, which is the right of individuals to follow their conscience and belong to the religion of their choosing. Unfortunately, this is not possible in many countries. Discrimination against religious minorities is a common cause of violence and inequality around the globe.

Pope Francis urged all Christians to work together in unity and to share responsibility for one another in communion.

We must all ask ourselves if there is more we can do to ease the suffering of persecuted Christians and to advance the cause of religious freedom.

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