Intolerance against Christians Grows in Europe

Intolerance against Christians Grows in Europe The Synod of Bishops held in Rome culminated with a message calling, among other questions, to the defense of the "religious freedom as a basic human right", evoking the Christians "who are suffering" harassment. Nigeria was again the scene of another cruel act of fanatical violence against Christians, when eight people where killed and over hundred injured after a suicide assault on a Catholic church in Malali, in the north of the country. The Islamist sect Boko Haram, alleged author of the attack, has sacrificed more than 1,400 Nigerians since 2009 with their wild fanaticism, trying to eliminate the followers of Christ. In this context, it becomes very interesting the analysis of the persecutions suffered by Christians in Europe in 2011, released by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDACE). A survey conducted in England shows that 74% think that there is more injustice against Christians than against other religions. In Scotland 95% of the sectarian acts are aimed against Christians, 2.3% against Jews and 2.1% against Muslims. Something similar happens in France, where 84% of the barbarism affects Christian places of worship: 522 profanations have been counted, in churches or cemeteries. The OIDACE recognizes different types of attacks, affecting freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, political discrimination, exclusion of Christians from the political and social life, retaliation against religious symbols, insults, defamation, incidents caused by hate, vandalism and profanation. In Germany strong constraints are put to limit the freedom of associations active against abortion. In the island of Jersey (overseas territory of the United Kingdom), officials refused to hand over the houses a package containing a CD with the recording of the Gospel of St. Mark. There are multiple threats to professionals practicing conscientious objection to abortion and euthanasia. The Dutch government threatens to expel government officials who, for reasons of conscience, refuse to celebrate weddings between gays and lesbians. There are also cases of abuse. Finally, there are numerous references to "vandalism and profanation of churches and sacred objects" in Austria, Germany, Spain and France. As noted by the directors of the Observatory, Gudrun and Martin Kugler, in presenting their research, "our work wants to encourage victims of Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians to tell their stories. This should help in the particular situations as well as develop public awareness and prevent further instances, raising awareness among all people of good will that the phenomenon ought to be taken seriously”. According to the Italian sociologist and OSCE representative Massimo Introvigne, over a hundred thousand Christians are killed each year for their faith and 45 million followers of Christ were sacrificed in the twentieth century, for showing their religious beliefs in public. Author and journalist Clemente Ferrer has led a distinguished career in Spain in the fields of advertising and public relations. He is currently President of the European Institute of Marketing. clementeferrer3@gmail.com