Grim and Grimmer
By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Sep 09, 2010
In India, a professor at a Catholic college who offended Islamic extremists was attacked and had his hand cut off. He was then fired by the college for having given offense, though his reinstatement has been ordered by the university of which the college is a part.
Elsewhere in India, a Hindu leader of a violent rampage against Christians in August 2008 has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of widespread arson and one murder, and implicated in seven other murders. The rampage had left 93 Christians dead and forced some 54,000 Christians to flee their homes, 6,500 of which were looted and burned, along with 350 churches and 45 schools. It is hoped that the conviction will restore confidence in a government which offered Christians no protection.
In Vietnam, a number of local governments have banned public religious activities, so Catholics there are defying the ban by gathering to pray together in homes. In Pakistan, a Catholic layman was gunned down in front of his parish Church. In addition, it has come to light that Christians in Pakistan have been denied government aid unless they convert to Islam.
In Austria, an abortion clinic hired thugs to harrass and intimidate pro-life demonstrators. Despite the filming of several physical assaults, no charges have been brought. In Britain, Channel 4 will air a documentary on the eve of the Pope’s visit which amounts to a vicious attack by the gay activist who directed it.
And that’s just this week. Do you think a daily prayer of solidarity might be in order on behalf of Catholics and other Christians around the world who are daily attacked by governments, the media and dominant social groups?
Jeffrey Mirus holds a Ph.D. in intellectual history from Princeton University. A co-founder of Christendom College, he also pioneered Catholic Internet services. He is the founder of Trinity Communications and CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Sep. 11, 2010 11:47 AM ET USA
Suggest the Holy Rosary, as did our Blessed Lady at Fatima, and practically everywhere else she appeared. She also mentioned penance.
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Posted by: rjdobie9424 -
Sep. 10, 2010 11:03 AM ET USA
I would agree with the previous comment except in this: radical Islam and radical secular humanism are emboldened not out of strength, but out of desperation and weakness. By every measure - militarily, economically, educationally - the Islamic world is extraordinarily weak; and as for secular humanism, it finds itself on a sinking ship of demographic exitinction. The Church will, as always, prevail, but not before taking a beating from some desperate enemies!
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Posted by: Justin8110 -
Sep. 09, 2010 5:36 PM ET USA
We better get in and stay in a state of grace and start praying and making Communions of reparation. Things are only going to get worse and it will be a matter of time before Catholics in the US will be asked to repudiate their Faith or die for it. Between Islam on the one hand an a gradualy emboldened secular humanism on the other we have enemies all around who wish to destroy us.
