Christmas: Canterbury archbishop stresses prayers for church persecution

THE Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Justin Welby, in his ecumenical Christmas letter, released on Thursday, stressed the need for churches to rise up to the challenge of persecution.

According to the cleric, “in many parts of our troubled, uncertain world, Christian minority communities, along with other minorities, are being similarly targeted. In some places, this is motivated by a desire to eradicate the indigenous Christian presence completely. These are acts not only of terror, but also of genocide; criminal acts for which the international community must bring those guilty to account.

“Yet, although so vulnerable and often forgotten and marginalised, our brothers and sisters are being courageous in the Lord. Indeed, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”

Speaking on conflict and corruption which has gradually become commonplace, he said that “the world forgets the suffering of the poor,” asking for prayers “for those of us who live in safety that we may not be bystanders afar off, beating our breasts as we retire to the security of our homes, but that we may draw nearer to the cross of Jesus, stand there alongside our suffering brothers and sisters and be ready to take our part in practical action for change.

“I pray that Christ will strengthen all his people in our inner being with power through the Holy Spirit to be faithful, to have courage and to live in hope. More than ever, we need Christ-like communities proclaiming the good news of the gospel in word and action.

“In many countries, there is no persecution but there is apathy and complacency which leads us, in the striking words of Pope Francis, to be practical atheists. The measure of a Christ-like community is the extent to which it holds the vulnerable and marginalised of the world at the centre of its life.”

Speaking on the essence of the Christmas celebration for the Christian faith, Welby stated that “In our common celebration of the light of Jesus coming into the world, may we then encourage and build up one other, and so may the church in every place, united in suffering and in hope, shine with his light and act with his strength, today.”