Friends, in just two days, Christians were murdered on two continents. On Friday, gunmen opened fire on a funeral at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Karak, Jordan, and killed nine people. On Saturday, armed men attacked Orthodox churches and homes in Oromia, Ethiopia, and killed more than forty. These are not statistics. They are our brothers and sisters, members of the mystical Body of Christ. When Saul set out to destroy the Church, the risen Jesus asked him, “Why are you persecuting me?” The Lord is still being persecuted in these victims of anti-Christian violence. Christianity is by far the most persecuted religion in the world today. Those of us who worship in comfort have to ask what the deaths of these martyrs demand of us. At the very least, they demand that we pray for them, learn their names, press our leaders to act, and refuse to look away. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.

🚨 At least 47 Orthodox Christians have been massacred by Oromo militants in Shirka Woreda, Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, as homes are burned and security forces fail to intervene At least 47 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians were killed in coordinated attacks by Oromo militants on October 24, targeting Birbo, Chole and Sole Guna kebeles in Shirka Woreda, Arsi Zone, Oromia Region. According to information from the area, attackers surrounded communities, preventing residents from escaping, before killing civilians, burning numerous residential homes and looting property. The attacks involved armed groups operating in Shirka Woreda alongside additional fighters mobilized from the Wabe River, Honqolo Wabe and Robe Didea areas of Bale Zone. Families of victims accused the local Prosperity Party administration of supporting the perpetrators. Residents in Gobessa Town, the woreda’s administrative center, reportedly appealed to local police and security forces for immediate intervention but were told, “We have not received orders.” Security forces subsequently failed to intervene. The Arsi Diocese of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church confirmed that Christians were being killed and displaced from their homes and warned that similar attacks were occurring in other woredas. The diocese stated that His Grace Abune Elsa, Archbishop of Arsi and Jigjiga, had repeatedly raised the deteriorating security situation with authorities, including the Ministry of Peace, but no effective solution had been implemented. The Arsi Diocese called upon the Holy Synod and the Abiy regime to take immediate action to stop the killings, protect Orthodox Christian communities and address the worsening security crisis.

According to a new report from the Vatican, there are now more Catholics in Africa than in Europe. Father Augustine Dada, a Catholic priest from Nigeria and Vice President of the Pontifical Society of Saint Peter the Apostle USA, discusses the growing Church in Africa.

Graphic footage shows the aftermath of a shooting at a church in Jordan that left several people dead and injured.

Different pronouns. Equal respect. 🌈 Using someone’s pronouns is a simple way to show respect for their identity. On International Pronouns Day, we stand for a Europe where everyone can be themselves, free from discrimination. 🏳️‍🌈🇪🇺

EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Home Office counter-terrorism documents link “nostalgia for traditionalism” and fears over immigration, liberalism and multiculturalism to “Christian extremism”. Officials propose working with churches to promote “theological resilience” against the use of Christian teachings to justify hatred or violence. I obtained dozens of pages from RICU’s report on “Christian extremism”. Among the findings: • Images of happy families in wartime, peaceful countryside and classical statues are described as a “hook” towards an extremist worldview. • Tommy Robinson’s rallies and a Christmas carol concert come under scrutiny, alongside Christian fitness groups. • “Bob from Speakers’ Corner” features, despite RICU identifying no extremist content from him. Yet the report acknowledges that the threat of violence from Christian extremists remains “low”. Jeremiah Igunnubole, UK legal counsel for ADF, says the report “suggests an institutional anti-Christian bias has taken hold in the Home Office”. stevenedginton.substack.com/…