Devotion for today: Fear not, for I am the one who helps you"

Today we continue our look at the worldwide persecution of Christians.

Scripture for meditation: Isaiah 41:11-13
Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

China arrests Catholic priests, church members as campaign intensifies posted by Rob Kerby, Senior Editor (http://blog.beliefnet.com/pray)

Priests and church members in China’s immense underground Catholic Church were arrested this weekend in the community of Tianshui — as the Chinese government continues its persecution of Christians. Among those rounded up were the administrator of the underground diocese, Father John Baptist Wang Ruohan, retired Bishop Casmir Wang Milu, Father John Wang Ruowang, as well as several other priests and dozens of parish lay leaders, according to sources. Bishop Wang and the two Wang priests are all brothers. They are being held in different places and subjected to political indoctrination sessions designed to break their will. The Chinese government prohibits Chinese Catholics from having any contact with the Pope or the rest of the worldwide church – and insists they participate in a government-run Catholic church not recognized by Vatican. The vast majority of Chinese Catholics have refused, instead worshipping in makeshift “house churches” with priests and bishops ordained by the church in Rome.... According to observers, the arrests are designed to forcibly convince members of the underground – which has more priests than the government-run church — to prevent an underground priest from being elected bishop. The government had already been attempting to slow growth in the underground church by preventing the election of underground priests, arresting several diocesan administrators. In recent months, two other priests were arrested, possible candidates to be bishop. Two weeks ago, Chen Hailong, underground priest of the diocese of Xuanhua was released after his arrest in April. During his 4 months detention he was abused physically as well as mentally and coerced to join the government-run church, which is called the “Patriotic Association” and sever his ties with the Vatican. About the same time as Chen’s release, Wang Chengli, an underground priest of 48 years who is the administrator of the diocese of Heze serving Canzhou and Shandong, was arrested. Under pressure to sever his ties with the Vatican, he was left for days without food or water. The Catholic Diocese of Tianshui asks for the prayers of Christians worldwide for the release of their priests and faithful.

Prayer: St. Thomas More, Patron of Religious Freedom, Pray for Us

(Copyright © 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved)
O God our Creator, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome—for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us—this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

My thoughts: We all believe that this type of persecution can never happen to us. It can and it will if we do not stand up and declare that Religious Liberty is a right of every human being, and that no government should force religious people to go against their faith to satisfy political dictates. The Church has always prevailed. We must never lose hope.