Pope’s Prayer Intention for January: Religious Discrimination and Persecution
How is it possible that many religious minorities currently suffer discrimination or persecution? How can we allow that in this society, which is so civilized, there are people who are persecuted simply because they publicly profess their faith?
Not only is it unacceptable; it’s inhuman, it’s insane. Religious freedom is not limited to freedom of worship—that is to say, that people can have a worship service on the day prescribed by their sacred books.
Rather, it makes us appreciate others in their differences and recognize them as true brothers and sisters. As human beings, we have so many things in common that we can live alongside each other, welcoming our differences with the joy of being brothers and sisters.
And may a small difference, or a substantial difference such as a religious one, not obscure the great unity of being brothers and sisters. Let us choose the path of fraternity. Because either we are brothers and sisters, or we all lose.
Let us pray that those who suffer discrimination and suffer religious persecution, may find in the societies in which they live the rights and dignity that comes from being brothers and sisters.
Regarding the remark of those in favour of the TLM as being ‘persecuted’: is that not being rather “precious”? There are thousands of Christians across the world who face REAL, and usually violent, persecution if they attempt to practise their faith. Has Pope Francis revived the Inquisition and begun sending out snatch squads without anyone knowing?
He has though asked bishops to allow provision for a group, some of whom have over the years used the TLM to emphasise their disapproval of the Vatican II reforms. Having consulted the bishops of the world he has come to believe that some elements in the TLM are divisive, and inimical to the unity of the Church. Surely one of the roles of the shepherd is keep the flock united.
A novel and interesting point of view!
Were, I wonder, Pope Francis, Archbishop Roche, and Cardinal Nichols copied prior to posting?
My prayer is that the Pope himself will stop persecuting a significant religious minority – those hundreds of thousands of devout Catholics who love the Traditional Latin Mass. I am one of them. Neither he nor Archbishop Roche have shown one scrap of mercy to such people. Fortunately Cardinal Nichols here in Westminster has.