One of the quiet tragedies of our era is the continuing martyrdom of many of our fellow Christians throughout the world. Persecution continues, almost unnoticed and certainly under-reported. On Christmas day this year, bombings killed Catholics at 2 churches in Nigeria, but much more persecution went on. Christmas Eve Mass was canceled at most Catholic churches in Iraq, out of fear of attracting violence. Martyrdom for our faith is not something from the history books. The once-strong Chaldean Catholic church, with it's Patriarchate in Baghdad, has been decimated, by violence and bloodshed as well as by flight from Iraq to seek refuge and safety from persecution.

Christmas bombing in Nigeria: at least 25 dead

slatest.slate.com

(Peo­ple stand in front of the par­tial­ly destroyed St. There­sa Catholic Church after a bomb blast in the Madala Zuba dis­trict of Nige­ria's cap­i­tal, Abuja, on Dec. 25.)

 

12/27/11

Msgr. William J. King