Happy Holidays? Happy Solstice?

I know it is Christmas time when Advent is upon us.

I know it is Christmas time when my neighbourhood is illuminated at night with a symphony of lights and decorations.

I know it is Christmas time when every other commercial on TV is marketing some product to purchase for a loved one.

I know it is Christmas time when I hear Bing Crosby singing White Christmas in shopping malls.

I know it is Christmas time when the topic of political correctness rears its ugly head:  Most notably, over the issue of what we should proclaim during this very special time as Christians.

We have always been a nation of considerate people letting everyone celebrate their special holidays as their customs and beliefs dictate without interference. That freedom has always been one of this country's greatest attractions. Why, so many are asking, is it now that those of Christian beliefs are not afforded the same freedom of Christmas expression?

So in a very bold statement....

....on behalf of our family at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

“The food you have stored away belongs to the hungry.

The unworn garment in your wardrobe belongs to the naked.

The gold you have hidden away belongs to the poor.”

(St. Basil)

My next blog will be posted January 2nd, 2011.  

"75 per cent of religious persecution is directed at Christians"

The above tag line caught my eye as I read through the Sunday edition of the Toronto Star this weekend. Here are some of the disturbing allegations in the article:

• "Terrified Christians in Iraq are still mourning the 50-plus deaths in an Oct. 31 attack against worshippers attending mass at Our Lady of Salvation church in Baghdad, in which a militant group called the Islamic State of Iraq sprayed the sanctuary with bullets."
• "In Uzbekistan, a Christian man has been fined the equivalent of seven years' salary for possessing a movie about Jesus."
• "The Vietnamese government has announced the continuation of a massive military operation to "wipe out" Christians in the central highlands who refuse to join the state approved church."
• "In Saudi Arabia, the only faith permitted by law is Islam. Christians are regularly imprisoned and tortured on trumped-up charges of drinking alcohol, blaspheming or owning religious artifacts."

Reading these examples and many more, I agree with the author of this article who states that persecution of Christians just doesn't compute with us in the West.  We are the faith on record in the world's richest and most powerful countries, where Christians have been ensconced for centuries.  The author goes on to cite that given our well-documented history of brutality, we are more conditioned to think that people of our faith have been the persecutors not the victims.

The reality is that two-thirds of the world's Christians live outside the West.  In fact, the average Christian is now defined as a Nigerian woman.  Sources in the article state that upwards of 200 million Christians face daily threats of murder, beating, imprisonment and torture.  Furthermore, "at least" 75 per cent of all religious persecution in the world is directed against Christians.

Why is this happening in these countries?  In short, Christianity is seen as preaching faith and a vehicle for Western imperialism and colonialism. Another reason provided in this article is that "the lack of understanding comes from lack of knowledge."  It is this religious illiteracy that is endangering lives abroad. 

As a matter of fact, I had every intention of doing this week's version of my blog on religious illiteracy but I will save this for my last entry next weekend prior to the Christmas break.

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/901492--christianity-arguably-the-most-persecuted-religion-in-the-world

Looking forward to your comments.  Just a reminder that the final exam schedule has been posted on our public site at www.ctk.ca.