AMERICA/CHILE - Sunday of prayer for the Church, persecuted Christians, and priests

Santiago de Chile (Agenzia Fides) - Today, millions of Catholics around the world live their faith and their commitment to Christ in a heroic way. Some even risk their lives to proclaim the Gospel. According to the Report on Religious Freedom in the World, produced by the Association of Pontifical Right Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in the year 2008, there have been attacks on religious freedom in over 60 countries. To support all Christians who suffer persecution and are harassed because of their faith with power of prayer, the Chilean Bishops' Conference began organizing in 2006 the annual celebration of a Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, to be celebrated in November. This intention is prayed for in a special manner at all the Masses that are celebrated in Chile.
The Day this year, celebrated yesterday, Sunday, November 22, on this Year for Priests, was dedicated to those priests who carry out their ministry with heroism, whether for lack of financial resources or for their courage in proclaiming the Word of God in places where the Church is persecuted. We cannot forget even those priests who while living in Western societies, however, suffer indifference or are impeded in their mission by institutions or laws that, in the name of a false freedom, violate religious freedom.” (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2009)