United States (International Christian Concern) — Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states, is calling on the United Nations and its member states to respond to what he calls the “world’s most severe and widespread religious persecution.”
In his address to the U.N. on Sept. 29 in New York, Gallagher called attention to the many Christians suffering due to persecution around the world. Currently, more than 360 million Christians are living in areas with intense persecution and discrimination, and the attacks on homes, churches, and communities are increasing.
In his address, Gallagher stated that “The data show that Christians are the most persecuted religious group worldwide, and yet the international community seems to be turning a blind eye to their plight …”
Gallagher noted that the member nations not addressing Christian persecution is part of a larger failure by the international community to uphold the right to religious belief and expression. True religious freedom, as he noted, must allow for individuals to practice and profess their faith publicly and privately without obstruction from the government.
Gallagher added that “Christians across the world are subjected to severe persecution, including physical violence, imprisonment, forced displacement, and martyrdom …”
He claimed that this practice of ignoring Christian persecution is part of a broader moral collapse caused by economic and political interests replacing human rights, stating that crises such as poverty, armed conflict, climate change, and inequality erode dignity and stability worldwide.
Gallagher warned the U.N. that by remaining silent on such issues, they are complicit in the violence against Christians, stating that freedom of religion is not just freedom from persecution but freedom from fear of exercising one’s religion freely.
He closed his address by urging nations to reject policies that dehumanize their people and to protect and prioritize the vulnerable, especially those persecuted for their religious beliefs.
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