Leading English prelate laments plight of Bethlehem Christians

[Holly3278]

During his homily at Midnight Mass, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster prayed for beleaguered Christians in Bethlehem.

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=12789

We should always keep all of the Christians in the Holy Land in our prayers. We should also keep all of the Christians in the Middle East in our prayers. Many Christians in the Middle East are heavily persecuted. Some, in nations like Saudi Arabia, aren’t even allowed to practice their religion! Its sad what some of them have to go through. We need to pray for them.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Catholic News Service
Absentee landowners? West Bank landowners can’t get to their land

After Israel built the separation barrier in 2002, farmers were not allowed to cross through the fence to the valley to reach their olive groves. Salman was left with only 360 square yards of land, while the other 1,560 square yards of his property was confiscated and now lies on the other side of the barrier, he said.

“These lands used to earn us and our families a lot of money,” from the olive oil produced from the olives, he said. “We also got our own olives and olive oil from there. We lost everything.”
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“We feel abandoned by the whole world. We are all Christians. This is 99 percent Christian land,” said Hanouna. “This land was the hope for the Christian people, for our sons to expand. That is all we own.”

For all the persecuted Christians in the Holy Land, especially those in and around Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace was born:
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Come Holy Spirit…
Fatima prayer

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

It seems to be getting worse and worse for Christians in Bethlehem… And it is not enough to just pray for the Holy Land’s Christians we have to donate to organizations like the “Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land” ffhl.org/2006/default.asp that works directly with the local Christians and helps them with education, housing and legal problems.

You also have the organization CNEWA which helps Christians in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. cnewa.org/home.aspx?ID=26&pagetypeID=12&sitecode=HQ

Hope you all had a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

God bless