Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere are suffering a tremendous amount of prejudice, bigotry, and intolerance for practicing their faith. This includes the burning of Coptic Churches in Egypt, the imprisonment of a pastor in Iran and the exodus of Palestinian Christians. Now in Iraq Christians are asked to convert or pay a heavy tax or die. The nations of the world including our own under the Obama administration don’t seem to be too concerned about their plight. In the Western World—and that includes the United States—those of different faiths are protected under the law without prejudice. Yet in some Muslim countries those of different faiths are not tolerated and are asked to convert or to leave or die. As a Catholic and as Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus council #5911 in Douglaston, I pray for my fellow Christians in their hour of need. Remember this, too: Evil thrives when the nations of the world do nothing!
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Glen Oaks Village
