VATICAN - A 2008 marked by religious hatred and anti-Christian secularism

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The year 2008 was heavily marked by anti-Christian violence and persecution throughout the world. Areas that for many years had remained immune to the intolerance and had been places that enjoyed a peaceful coexistence among Christians and Hindus or Muslims have now become literal fighting grounds where violence and hatred have substituted tranquility and respect.
Another troubling reality is the fact that during this past year, the persecutions have not only come in the form of a deep – almost racist – hatred widespread among non-Christians, but they have also been seen in the strongly anti-Christian laws and policies of individual governments.
All this shows a substantial downfall in the nature of such persecutions, often inspired and supported by the people “on top” or at least conveniently ignored by the institutions. It is of no mere coincidence that the Holy Father Benedict XVI recently reminded participants of the first seminar, organized by the Catholic-Muslim Forum of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, of the fact that “Political and religious leaders have the duty of ensuring the free exercise of these rights in full respect for each individual’s freedom of conscience and freedom of religion.” And he later added: “The discrimination and violence which even today religious people experience throughout the world, and the often violent persecutions to which they are subject, represent unacceptable and unjustifiable acts, all the more grave and deplorable when they are carried out in the name of God. God’s name can only be a name of peace and fraternity, justice and love. We are challenged to demonstrate, by our words and above all by our deeds, that the message of our religions is unfailingly a message of harmony and mutual understanding.” (Audience, November 6, 2008)
However, the fighting ground where Christianity is rigorously and mercilessly attacked is not only the area of conflict between religions. The supposed modern secularism, understood as the elimination of man's religious and cultural identity, acts in the same manner. Laws increasingly invade the personal privacy of the individual and try to place restrictions on faith in Christ.
Trying to erase basic Christian values from the society and culture of nations whose history is intimately linked to that of Christianity means persecuting Christ by placing pressure on Christians to feel ashamed of their belief in Christ. This domineering secularism threatens the Church in an even more subtle and dangerous manner than the physical violence and open intolerance, as it justifies the obliteration of Christianity with the excuse of protecting new and fallacious rights, and defining tolerance in the most absolute sense, imposing an almost complete disappearance of the Christian religion from the social panorama. This is what is occurring in a Europe filled with increasingly more lukewarm Christians.
Perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not these events should inspire us to defend the purity and integrity of our faith. The words of Mother Aloisious, a Poor Clare from India who has witnessed the recent persecutions in the region of Orissa, are of great inspiration: “'All things work for good for those who love God' (Rm 8:28). We believe and are sure of it. The persecutions we live today, although they are painful and seem beyond our strength, form a part of God's plan to correct a dishonest humanity, calling upon man to change his heart and thereby purifying the Church.” (FC) (Agenzia Fides 16/1/2009)