“Jesus said, They shall persecute you… delivering you into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.” – Luke 21:12 & Mark 13:9
“Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” – Philippians 3:18
THE CHRISTIAN POST reports: There were at least 168 incidents of religious freedom violations against Christians in Western countries between January 2020 and December 2023, according to a new report from the Family Research Council’s Center for Religious Liberty, which documented cases across 16 countries.
The violations include arrests and fines for public preaching and praying, penalties for expressing biblically informed beliefs, and punitive measures against pastors not adhering to COVID-19 restrictions, which were often more severe for religious institutions than secular ones, says the study, titled “Free to Believe? The Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West.”
Using open-source documents, reports and news from media outlets, the study reveals a concerning trend of government-sanctioned actions against Christian practices and expressions, with at least 58 incidents in the United States, 36 in Canada, 43 in the United Kingdom, and six in Greece. Other countries with similar incidents included France, Switzerland, Spain, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Germany, Malta, Australia and New Zealand.
Tony Perkins, president of FRC and former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, emphasized the alarming rise in Western hostility toward Christians, noting the authoritarian measures against individuals practicing their faith.
In the U.S., a California teacher, Jessica Tapia, was fired in February 2023 after questioning the district’s policy forcing teachers to hide and even lie to parents about students’ gender confusion and desire to identify as the opposite sex at school.
In Australia, Pastor Martin Beckett was investigated by police in August 2021 after admitting on a social media livestream that he had conducted a wedding in violation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
In Canada, Pastor Derek Reimer was arrested in March 2023 for breaking orders following his previous arrest, which forbade him from being within 200 meters of any LGBT event. At the time of both arrests, Reimer was protesting drag queen storytime events at public libraries. He was charged with counts of disturbance, mischief, and six counts of harassment, each incurring fines or six months in prison.
The report lists all 168 incidents of religious freedom violations against Christians in the 16 countries… (Continue reading)
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