Christians living in First World countries such as the United States can often fall into complacency and forget that our brothers and sisters living in other regions around the world are suffering from persecution and discrimination. Yet, our Christian fraternity urges us to help these men and women in whatever way we can — yes, through our thoughts and prayers, but also through our generosity.
The following five organizations are putting their time and money toward helping persecuted Christians in the Middle East. In light of Pope Francis’ recent trip to Iraq, we invite you to join in the efforts of helping our brothers and sisters in need.
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Aid to the Church in Need
For 70 years, this international papal foundation has provided pastoral and humanitarian assistance to the persecuted Church around the world. The objectives of Aid for the Church in Need are: “to support and promote the Church, especially in countries where Christians are suffering persecution or discrimination; and to further the other charitable work of the Church by providing practical assistance and pastoral care for persons in need, especially those who are living in, or are refugees from, such countries.”
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Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA)
This organization specifically works for, through and with the Catholic Eastern churches in the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe, providing diverse programs that help with the formation of priests and support religious sisters, install irrigation systems, offer neonatal care, provide emergency relief to refugees and counseling for war-scarred children.
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Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
First established in 1943, Catholic Relief Services is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Rooted in the Catholic faith, CRS provides critical relief to people in times of crisis, and much of their work helps Christians and minorities across the Middle East who are the target of persecution.
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Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus first began assisting Christian refugees in the Middle East in the 1920s in the aftermath of World War I. In more recent years, the fraternal organization has worked to support communities neglected by the American government and United Nations aid programs, such as Christians other religious minorities experiencing genocide, primarily in Iraq and Syria.
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Iraqi Christian Relief Council
Started in 2007, the Iraqi Christian Relief Council (ICRC) aims to educate the people around the globe about Iraqi Christian persecution, ask for prayers, and raise funds to support their basic humanitarian needs and partake in rebuilding their lives. Their many projects include providing sustainable aid to help rebuild communities which were destroyed by ISIS, adopting refugee families, and helping people in war-torn regions, among other initiatives.
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