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Priest: Pakistan Short on Religious Freedom
Tuesday, 21 August 2007 22:08
LAHORE, Pakistan, AUG. 21, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Christians in Pakistan still face persecution for their faith, despite the Pakistani founding father's dream of religious freedom, said Father Emmanuel Asi.
Pakistan celebrated 60 years as an independent republic Aug. 14.
Father Asi, the chairman of the Theological Institute for Laity in Lahore and secretary of the Catholic Bible Commission of Pakistan, spoke with the group Aid to the Church in Need on that day.
Christians make up only 1.5% of the 167 million Pakistanis. According to Father Asi, they are often treated as second-class citizens, denied basic human rights and victimized by social discrimination and political oppression.
Father Asi contended that the vision of Ali Jinnah, the "father of the Pakistani nation" has been "darkened." Jinnah dreamed of a country in which all citizens were equal and, regardless of their religious faith, lived above all as free Pakistani citizens, the priest stated.
In reality, Father Asi said, religiously motivated aggression can "at any time" bring about "every imaginable kind of problem" for Christians.
ZE07082104 - 2007-08-21
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O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things. Treasury of Blesings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
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| Let us consider, then, brethren, of what matter we were formed, who we are, and with what nature we came into the world, and how He Who formed and created us brought us into His world from the darkness of a grave, and prepared his benefits for us before we were born. Since, therefore, we have everything from Him, we ought in everything to give Him thanks, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. St. Clement of Rome |