ICC Note:
The Archbishop of Lahore, Pakistan has explained how he thinks the Church can help curb persecution worldwide. First, the Archbishop explained that Christian persecution needs to be seen and treated as a human rights abuse. Second, instead of military intervention, a focus on humanitarian work should help curb global persecution. Christians in Pakistan face severe persecution because of their religious identity. Will the global Church listen to the Archbishop’s advice?
04/25/2017 Pakistan (Christians in Pakistan) – Archbishop of Lahore, Francis Sebastian Shaw has stated that the persecution of Christians is a matter of human rights abuses. Archbishop while talking to Fox News said that in order to curb the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, church members need to get engaged in humanitarian outreach to their neighbors.
He said that in this regard, we must not seek military intervention in order to prevent persecution of Christians. He maintained that having people on ground is much more effective approach than military intervention. “Such humanitarian efforts should not be interpreted as helping Christians, but helping humanity,” he explained.
Further explaining is viewpoint he said: “Direct military intervention will create problems, but what I think can be done, if not directly, is more of a humanitarian base.” Archbishop Shaw maintained that serving those outside the church will help the church touch the lives of the persecutors. “Then they will see that these Christians are helping them also, as well as their own community,” he said.
Citing the 2013, incident when an entire neighborhood of Christians was burnt by a vigilante mob; Archbishop Shaw stated: “Muslim scholars came and supported those who lost their homes. “They went with us to console the victimized people. Together.”
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