 Letter for Europe December 10, 2011 Dear friends, Everyone celebrates Christmas. But while many do not understand its meaning, there are some who advocate the removal of Christian symbolism: nativity scenes, Christmas carols, even Christmas trees are considered as offensive and substitute by winter or light symbols. Let us not be afraid of holding up, celebrating and communicating the real message of Christmas which is able to bring change, peace and meaning. This year we take advantage of the International Day of Human Rights to give you a short report on the work of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians, an initiative directly born from “Europe for Christ!” At the end of a very busy year we also want to ask you: please consider to support “Europe for Christ!” with your Christmas donation! Thank you for your generosity! (Bank details: Europa für Christus! Account Nr. 03210902901, BLZ: 14000, IBAN: AT05 1400003210902901, BIC: BAWAATWW (or BAWAATWWXXX), BAWAG Bank, Postal Code: 1010 Vienna; or view www.europe4christ.net/index.php) Have a blessed advent and a merry CHRISTmas! United in our prayer for a Christian Europe! Your Europe for Christ! Team
450 Cases of Intolerance Against Christians in Europe December 10th is the International Day of Human Rights. While Europe is praised for being a champion in human rights, the growing phenomenon of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians is widely ignored. The Observatory has recently published its 450th incident of intolerance or discrimination against European Christians – and this is just a small reflection of what is reported to us! Raising awareness is a first and indispensible step towards a remedy. Please support the work of the Observatory by reporting your cases to us, by setting up links to our website, by liking us on Facebook, by following us on Twitter. Please circle our cases and newsletters where appropriate and consider to support us with your donation. Religiously Motivated Hate Crimes in Scotland: 95% Directed Against Christians In 2010 and 2011 there were 693 charges aggravated by religious prejudice in Scottland. This means a nearly 10 per cent increase in a year and the highest level in four years. 95% of this violence was directed against Christians. The data shows that in 2010-11: 58 per cent of charges related to offences which were derogatory towards Roman Catholicism and 37 per cent of charges related to offences which were derogatory to Protestantism. 2.3 per cent related to Judaism, and 2.1 per cent related to Islam. Read more here (http://www.intoleranceagainstchristians.eu/reports-and-documents-detail/article/scottish-government-reveals-95-of-religiously-motivated-violence-is-directed-against-christians.html) Vatican Cardinal: Imprisonment of Christians for their Faith in the Western World Possible Cardinal Raymond Burke, former Archbishop of St. Louis and now the head of the Vatican’s highest court, told Catholic News Agency that he could envision a time when the Catholic Church in the U.S., “even by announcing her own teaching,” is accused of “engaging in illegal activity, for instance, in its teaching on human sexuality.” Asked if the cardinal could even see American Catholics being arrested for their faith he replied, “I can see it happening, yes.” Read more here (http://www.intoleranceagainstchristians.eu/quotations-detail/article/one-of-the-highest-ranking-cardinals-in-the-vatican-united-states-well-on-the-way-to-the-persecut.html) Please Support the Observatory’s Work Please consider to support the Observatory with a Christmas donation. The Observatory is the only organisation monitoring intolerance and discrimination against Christians. Awareness is the first step to a remedy. Awareness will prevent worse discriminations. Please support our work with your donations. Donate via bank transfer: Name: Observatory, Account Number: 02810859051, Bank: BAWAG; BLZ: 14000; IBAN: AT881400002810859051, BIC: BAWAATWW) Donate online (http://www.intoleranceagainstchristians.eu/header-menu/donate.html) Follow the Observatory on Facebook and Twitter! Stay updated by liking the Observatory on Facebook, and by following it on Twitter! |
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