Religious persecution kills every year 150,000 Christians

Religious persecution kills every year 150,000 Christians Aid to the Church in Need is a foundation of the Holy See, promoted by Pope Pius XII and initiated by P. Werenfried van Straaten in 1947, to help the needy or suffering persecution church anywhere in the world. It has offices in 17 countries and projects in 140 developing countries. The main objectives are: Fundraising to fund aid projects in countries where the Church is most needed, threatened or persecuted. To inform accurate and factually, and to raise public awareness about the situation of the suffering and persecuted Church around the world. It is the voice of those who have no voice. Today in the world between 80% and 90% of those who are persecuted because of their religion are Christians. The latest campaigns conducted by ACN have the following slogans: "Emergency Syria. They need your love to live. They need your prayers to not lose their hope. More than 50,000 Christians have fled the Syrian city of Homs, in fear of violence from Islamic radicals. They take refuge in nearby villages, in miserable conditions". Another awareness campaign: "When faith becomes light. The Sisters of The Queen of The Apostles, in Ranchi (India), take care of 28 blind children whose families have abandoned them considering them damned. The sisters give them shelter, food and return them dignity and hope. Help them”. A further campaign in support of the Catholics of Venezuela: "The gospel does not give up. The Barefoot Carmelites of Chirgua (Venezuela) live in a pigsty converted into convent. They have suffered floods, disease, seizures ... But they do not give up. His testimony is a symbol of strength in faith". "The Church of the faithful" is the latest message from ACN. "The new church of Khunti (India) is being raised by its followers. While young women bring cement, the elderly care for their babies. Catholics in India need 50,000 euros for the construction of temples and shrines. Help them". Finally the "Week for the persecuted church". During that week an exhibition was held at the Jerónimos Church in Madrid (Spain), under the theme: "Christians persecuted today", on the occasion of the Second Conference on Religious Freedom in the world. Christians are now "the largest religious group that suffers persecution of their faith", as Benedict XVI said. More than 150,000 Christians are killed each year in religious persecution, according to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the U.S. Hudson Institute. 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