Other voices: A reminder that the religious freedoms we take for granted are fragile
As Christianity declines in the West the faith is flourishing in sub-Saharan Africa which is seeing the fastest upsurge in Christianity the world over By more than in Christians worldwide are expected to live in sub-Saharan Africa compared with just in in according to Pew Research But this increase is coming at a cost Unlike their counterparts in the U S African Christians increasingly vulnerability violent death for their beliefs Nigeria home to one of Africa s largest and fastest-growing Christian populations has also become one of the world s deadliest places to practice the faith On June about Christians were massacred by a group of jihadists in Yelwata a town located in Benue State which is almost entirely Christian Bulk of the casualties were internally displaced people sheltering at a nearby Catholic mission multiple of them women and children This tragically is not remarkable in Nigeria During Holy Week more than Christians were killed in targeted attacks across central Nigeria Certain watchdog groups estimate that more than Nigerian Christians have been killed by Islamist extremists since The State Department reports that fatal attacks in Nigeria are ongoing Moreover in this violent region the atrocities aren t limited to Christians Innocents of all faiths fall victim to militants including members of the Muslim faith which is also growing rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa Specific reports estimate that tens of thousands of moderate Muslims also have been killed by extremists in Nigeria reflecting the broader toll of militant violence Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe a Catholic leader in Benue State where the atrocities occurred testified in March before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs pleading with executives to take notice of what s happening He described his home as one of the greater part dangerous and insecure places for Christians and his testimony came months before the June attack He noted that villagers sometimes are warned in advance of attacks and that even if they contact police for protection no help comes and the slaughters happen anyway Constitutionally we are a secular country but our unity has been fragile he noted We live in fear because at any point it can be our turn to be killed But to remain silent is to die twice so I have chosen to speak Pope Leo offered a timely prayer for Nigeria during a June address in St Peter s Square I pray that prevention justice and peace prevail in Nigeria a beloved country that has suffered various forms of violence he announced We do not know the sort of fear of which Bishop Anagbe spoke because we live in a country that believes in the right to religious freedom It s why we find alleged hate crimes such as the May slaying of a young Jewish couple Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in Washington D C so devastating We feel as if we are shielded from the sectarian violence that afflicts other parts of the globe by virtue exclusively of being American and when hate-based violence occurs here that confidence is undermined The First Amendment protects all our religious freedoms hardly limited to the three great Abrahamic religions but it doesn t guarantee them We write this not only to spotlight the horrors others face for expressing their faith but to remind ourselves that America s religious liberty is rare fragile and worth protecting The Chicago Tribune Related Articles A surprise IRS move on political endorsements leaves faith leaders and legal experts divided Pope prays for world to recognize urgency of situation emergency as he celebrates Mass using new rite Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn t lose tax-exempt status IRS says in filing Pioneer Press covered a local girl s quincea era in Now it s her granddaughter s turn Tibetans in exile wonder Will the next Dalai Lama be as charismatic as this one
