Persecution of Christians and Religious Minorities in the Middle East

The prolonged persecution of Christians in Syria and other countries in the Middle East has resulted in the deaths of more than 200,000 people and displaced millions.  Refugees are also escaping violence in  Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan.  

​These individuals and families have been forced to flee the homeland they have occupied since Biblical times.  Those persecuted have suffered enormously at the hands of terrorists, who target them simply for their faith.  
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For Christian refugees, access to medical supplies and health services has also been cut off, putting their lives at risk.  Innocent children have been deprived of a safe home, a good education, and nutritious food.  

"Genocide Against Christians in the Middle East" -- A report submitted to Secretary of State John Kerry by the Knights of Columbus on March 9, 2016
White House Reveals ‘Game Changer’ for Persecuted Middle East Christians
Peter Jesserer Smith, National Catholic Register,  October 26, 2017

To assist with the Knights of Columbus efforts to rebuild cities and towns in the Middle East and to bring Christians home, please click here, or on the image below.  Thank you!

The Church's Call for U.S. Financial Assistance

​Just over a year ago, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the State Department all unanimously declared that ISIS was committing genocide against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.  However, because of their status as “communities”, many of the most affected persons – an overwhelming number of whom are women and children, have still received none of the billions of dollars that are distributed around the world by our own government and by the U.N annually.  

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) & Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
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​On February 10, 2017, the chairmen of three USCCB Committees -- Migration, Religious Liberty and International Justice and Peace, along with the board of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) issued a joint statement, “Solidarity at the Service of All People in the Middle East”, reconfirming the U.S. Church’s solidarity with Christians and all those who suffer in the Middle East. 

The primary message was that our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East need our solidarity, and the Middle East needs our Christian brothers and sisters.  However, a concern for our Christian brethren is inclusive and does not exclude a concern for all the peoples of the region who suffer violence and persecution, both minorities and majorities, both Muslims and Christians. 

​Therefore, among the numerous recommendation that were made was the provision of generous U.S. humanitarian and development assistance to refugees, displaced persons and communities in Iraq and Syria as they rebuild, including funding for trusted faith-based non-governmental agencies like Catholic Relief Services and local Caritas agencies so that aid reaches all groups, including majority and minority communities.
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Knights of Columbus
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​At the end of March, Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, penned an op-ed in The Washington Post entitled, “A year ago we declared ISIS genocidal.  Why are its victims still waiting for aid?”.  Within his witness to Christ’s call to feed, to shelter and to be a voice for “the least of these”, Mr. Anderson stated that the situation of genocidal victims in the Middle East is a gross injustice and a blight on America's foreign policy record.  In fact, the article continued, it is de facto discrimination against the Islamic State's most vulnerable victims.  The column ended with a plea to our U.S. Congress for swift passage of H.R. 390 “Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017”

H.R. 390:  “Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017”

This bi-partisan legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), ensures emergency relief to some of the most vulnerable victims in some of the most decimated areas of the world.  Most importantly, it also requires the U.S. government to direct a portion of the aid to specifically assist displaced individuals and families from communities of religious and ethnic minorities targeted for genocide.
 
Read the full text of H.R. 390:  “Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017”

Pastoral Care

Educational Topics

Resources & Referrals

How You Can Help...

        1.   Pray ...that God provides his protection to Christians in the Middle East and to all refugees displaced by violence and persecution.
       ​​​2.   Urge. . . your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives to support H. R. 390 “Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017”.
      3.   Contact ...your local Catholic Charities or other refugee resettlement agency to find out how you can assist families build new lives of hope here in the U.S.
​      4.   Donate 

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
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CRS and their Caritas partners in the region provide for basic necessities and assistance with education, counseling and care for children, housing, and livelihood support.  CRS also supports urgent medical care and emergency relief for tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in the areas most affected by the conflict.  Over 90% of money donated to CRS goes directly to people in need.  To make a donation, please visit www.crs.org.
Knights of Columbus
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​Tax-deductible donations to the Knights of Columbus to support Christian refugees can be made at www.christiansatrisk.org .  100% of all donations will be used to assist Christians and other religious minorities, primarily from Iraq and Syria.
" [I  urge] all Catholics in the United States and others of good will to express openness and welcome to these refugees, who are escaping desperate situations in order to survive. Regardless of their religious affiliation or national origin, these refugees are all human persons—made in the image of God, bearing inherent dignity, and deserving our respect and care and protection by law from persecution."
                                                                                                                                                                   Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, KY and Past President of the USCCB 
Human Rights Office ~ Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph  ~ 20 West Ninth Street ~ Kansas City, MO 64105 ~ ​(816) 756-1850 (x 521) ~ tmolina@diocesekcsj.org