News at  Aid to the Church in Need

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Persecuted and Forgotten?  

A Report  on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2005/2006

 

Christianity is the world’s most persecuted religion – and in many cases the suffering has dramatically worsened. In spite of growing extremism and intolerance, media coverage is scarce.

 

Examining 24 countries, such as China, Iraq and Pakistan, Persecuted and Forgotten? gives a blow-by-blow account of why it is that so many become out casts in their own country. Drawing on the very latest research and first-hand accounts, the book bears testimony to the heroic struggle of so many people determined to remain true to their Christian faith. 

 

To obtain a hard copy* of the report please write to our office at Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245  Blacktown  DC  NSW  2148  (02) 9679-1929  OR  order your copy on our On-Line store. The Report is available for a donation of $4.00 

 

*Australian residents only. Overseas visitors please download the report from homepage at www.aidtochurch.org

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Christians in Bethlehem need your help!

 “An end to desperate poverty is at last in sight for dozens of families in Bethlehem through an important initiative started in 2005 to help Christians in the Holy Land” reports Phillip Collignon the Australian Director of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Reports from the charity show that its initiative to distribute nativity scenes and olive wood rosaries made by Christian workers in the Holy Land is earning them enough to provide their families with food and warmth. ACN started the campaign in late 2005 after hearing about hundreds of families being forced to live in one room without electricity because their devotional gifts' businesses had all but dried up because of renewed conflict in the Holy Land.

Initially a grant of $35,000 from ACN was used to ship tens of thousands of olive wood rosaries from Bethlehem to Cologne where Catholic youth worldwide gathered in August for World Youth Day. The rosaries were blessed by Pope Benedict XVI and given out free of charge to the youth of the world who flocked to Cologne.

The rosaries and nativity scenes  are made by families in Bethlehem, who face destitution because the tourists on whom they depend for their livelihood have all but vanished from the Holy Land. Pilgrimages have dwindled since unrest broke out in the West Bank and even now that a semblance of peace has been restored, few tourists are venturing inside the Israel-built walls encasing towns and cities like Bethlehem. All this spells disaster for the many families who have given over the entire ground floor of their homes to produce cribs and rosaries while they live in often very deprived circumstances upstairs.

“The olive wood crib and rosary project has been an enormous boost to the Christians in the Holy Land and what better gift could you give this Christmas than to help keep your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ alive in the birth place of Our Lord”, said Phillip Collignon.

Nativity scenes and olive wood rosaries can be ordered online through the 'Rosary' and 'Other Books and Items' tabs.