Christians are being driven out of regions around the world where they are a minority

Faith and communities minister Lady Warsi called on politicians to set the tone for tolerance of religious minorities. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

"... no western government should promote a course of action in the Middle East which would end with a new government which was intolerant to its historical neighbours and colleagues within the territory." Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

 

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/15/christianity-risk-extinction-persecution-minority-warsi

Christianity at risk of extinction in areas of persecution, says Warsi

UK government minister Lady Warsi says Christians are being driven out of regions around the world where they are a minority

 

theguardian.com, Friday 15 November 2013 04.30 EST

 

Christianity is in danger of extinction in some countries because of persecution in areas where its followers are in the minority, a British government minister has said.

Christians were being driven out of regions in countries such as Syria and Iraq, where the religion first took root, said Lady Warsi, who has responsibility for faith communities.

She raised her concerns in a speech at Georgetown University in Washington DC in which she called on politicians in countries such as Pakistan to "set the tone" for tolerance of religious minorities.

Lady Warsi told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I'm concerned that the birthplace of Christianity, the parts of the world where Christianity first spread, is now seeing large sections of the Christian community leaving, and those that are remaining feeling persecuted.

"There are huge advantages to having pluralistic societies – everything from the economy to the way people develop educationally, and therefore we all have an interest in making sure that Christian communities do continue to feel that they belong and are not persecuted in the places where this religion was born.

"One in 10 Christians live in a minority situation and large numbers of those who live in a minority situation around the world are persecuted."

In some cases, Christians were targeted for "collective punishment" by majority groups in retaliation for what they perceived as the injustices committed by western powers...READ MORE