British foreign minister orders review into plight of Christians
(dpa)
London (dpa) - British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into discrimination and violence against Christians worldwide, the Press Association (PA) reported on Wednesday.
The international global review, to be led by Bishop of Truro Philip Mounstephen, will look at Britain's efforts to help the 215 million Christians around the world that the Foreign Office says faced discrimination and violence last year, PA reported.
"Britain has long championed international religious freedom," Hunt said. "So often the persecution of Christians is a telling early warning sign of the persecution of every minority."
The foreign minister said that Britain "can and must do more" to respond to the plight of persecuted Christians as officials reported a "dramatic rise in violence" against followers of the religion, with an average of 250 killed each month.
On Friday, Pope Francis also referred to the plight of Christians in a pre-Christmas address, who he said are being persecuted just as they were in ancient Roman times.
"It seems that the cruel and vicious persecution of the Roman Empire has not yet ended. A new Nero is always being born to oppress
believers solely because of their faith in Christ," Francis said.
"Britain has long championed international religious freedom," Hunt said. "So often the persecution of Christians is a telling early warning sign of the persecution of every minority."
The foreign minister said that Britain "can and must do more" to respond to the plight of persecuted Christians as officials reported a "dramatic rise in violence" against followers of the religion, with an average of 250 killed each month.
On Friday, Pope Francis also referred to the plight of Christians in a pre-Christmas address, who he said are being persecuted just as they were in ancient Roman times.
"It seems that the cruel and vicious persecution of the Roman Empire has not yet ended. A new Nero is always being born to oppress
believers solely because of their faith in Christ," Francis said.