While we celebrate Christmas, let us think about our brothers in faith: Christians in Africa and Asia for whom Christmas, as well as Easter, is an especially hard time. These important days, which are normally marked for celebration and worship, are instead marked by intensifying terrorist attacks and repression.
Only in 2022, 360 million Christians lived in countries characterized by repressions and discrimination of their faith. Close to 5,900 Christians were murdered this year solely because of their faith.
In addition, 5,110 churches — including those targeted in Europe — or other buildings of worship were attacked, destroyed or burned. Let us add that 6,175 of our fellow believers in the world were arrested without trial and sentenced to prison.
Another 3,829 Christians were executed.
To all those who want to make deals with the Taliban in Kabul, let me remind you that Afghanistan is at the top of the list of countries repressing Christians.
During this time, we should think about those who pay the highest price for their and our faith.
The Atlantic magazine labels rosary beads as ‘extremist’
The Atlantic published an article linking rosary prayers with military posturing and defense of the right to own guns
Poles still revere John Paul II but have doubts about today’s Church
81 percent of Poles still regard John Paul II as a role model but expect the Catholic Church in Poland to stay out of party politics and deal with pedophilia allegations
Survey: Moral relativism on the rise in Poland
For the last ten years, there has been a systematic shift from moral absolutism in favor of relativism, suggests the latest report by Poland’s Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS)
The rules of modern conservatism
Modern conservatism that can reach many people boils down to three vital aspects of life: common sense, family, and religion, according to Jacek Wojtysiak of Catholic portal Gosc.pl
‘Never call dead that which I can give life to’ – Polish youth must be taught faith
Are young people withdrawing from faith? No, they had never attained it in the first place. But we must try to open the doors for them, writes Catholic journalist Marcin Jakimowicz
Spanish government contributing to persecution of Catholics: report
Spain, which once evangelized to the farthest corners of the world, is now struggling with a rapid growth in persecution and hatred towards Catholics, according to a new report
The two faces of the Polish Catholic Church
While the urban Church suffers from a lack of interest from youth, rural churches are filled with young families at Mass, writes Dominican Father Wojciech Surówka
Report: More than 32.4 million Catholics live in Poland
Catholicism remains by far the most dominant religion in Poland, according to the Concise Statistical Yearbook of Poland
Opinion: Pope Francis’s restriction on Tridentine Mass is an example of unilateral diversity
The Pope’s decision to heavily restrict the old Latin Mass is an error on many levels related to the deep modernization of the Church, not a true process of diversification, writes Catholic columnist Tomasz Terlikowski
What does post-Christianity mean for the Church?
Between Christians and anti-Christians there are post-Christians, but they cannot live in-between the two groups forever and will have to make a decision, writes Jacek Wojtysiak for Catholic portal Gosc.pl
Italian university wants to ban religious symbols from students’ homes
New restrictions on displaying religious symbols at the University of Turin are the closest we have come to the situation described in Orwell’s “1984”, writes Jakub Jałowiczor
Top Polish athletes aren’t afraid to tout their Christian faith
Many Polish sporting personalities have testified publicly to their faith