5K Christians Martyred, 365M Persecuted in 2023
“If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you. If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.” —Jesus Christ, in John 15:18-20
Christians are one of the most persecuted groups in the world, especially in Africa and Asia, yet the West is practically silent on this key topic. Why do Westerners (including Christians) act as if Christian lives don’t matter?
The Biden administration removed Nigeria from the list of Countries of Particular Concern that have “severe violations of religious freedom” (apparently only MAGA is considered a dangerous threat), yet Nigerians accounted for 82% of Christians killed globally in 2023. World leaders pander to the Chinese Communist Party, one of the egregious government persecutors of Christians. North Korean Christians barely ever make the news, but North Korea topped Open Doors’ list for the worst countries in which to be Christian.
Read below for my PJ Media article on global Christian persecution. We must hear of these brave Christians’ suffering, and we should try to assist them through prayer and donations. If you know of any excellent charities to help Christians in the countries mentioned below, please provide names and/or links in the comments.
‘The Open Doors’ World Watch List 2024 ranked “50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution” and provided sobering statistics for 2023. Last year, 4,998 Christians were murdered for their faith, an average of 13 every day, with 4,125 Christians detained. A staggering 14,766 Christian properties and churches were attacked. Persecution is especially harsh in Asia and Africa…
Besides Nigeria, other African countries with deadly persecution of Christians include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), and Burkina Faso. Militant Islam is the major factor behind the genocide in Nigeria, though most Western outlets don’t want to admit this fact. Communists and Islamic jihadis account for many of the worst persecutions of Christians. Other countries particularly pointed out by Open Doors for their Christian persecution were Algeria, China, Laos, and Syria.
The persecution of Christians is worsening, Open Doors noted. The number of churches and Christian properties attacked (14,766) was about a six-fold increase over those reported in 2022, while “more than twice as many Christians were forced to flee their homes compared to the previous year.” World Watch List did report hopeful signs for Christians in Mali and India, however…
Open Doors provides separate dossiers for each of the 50 countries they ranked, which are available on the World Watch List webpage. “In Open Doors’ World Watch List top 50 alone, 317m Christians face very high or extreme levels,” with an estimated 365 million Christians persecuted worldwide. One in seven Christians globally faces persecution, with the statistics worsening for Africa and Asia. The West needs to wake up to this threat, and Christian leaders need to rally support for the Christians who brave violence and death to follow Jesus.’
Underreported in our media (outside of EWTN and some online journals), and ignored by our politicians and (sadly) too many of our clergy.