In Solidarity With Persecuted Christians

WHEREAS, people of faith are widely targeted for persecution around the world by non-state actors such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Boko Haram, and by the policies and actions of states classified by the U.S. Department of State as “countries of particular concern;” and

WHEREAS, on several occasions Pope Francis has urged the international community to respond to the persecution of Christians, including during his 2021 apostolic journey to Iraq; and

WHEREAS, the Knights of Columbus played a major role in the United States’ 2016 declaration that ISIS was committing genocide against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East by preparing and distributing a 300-page report detailing the atrocities and by successfully advocating for unanimous passage of congressional resolutions in support of such a declaration; and

WHEREAS, the Knights of Columbus signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Agency for International Development to collaborate on relief efforts and to share information to help increase the effectiveness of the government’s response to this crisis; and

WHEREAS, persecution of Christians in Africa continues unabated, especially in Nigeria where the terrorist organization Boko Haram, the West African branch of ISIS, and other anti-Christian entities have murdered more than 50,000 Christians since 2009 and in the same period destroyed 18,000 Christian churches and 2,200 Christian schools; and

WHEREAS, religious persecution in East Asia is enabled by dictatorial regimes that reject the tenets of religious freedom and enact punitive laws that ban religion, decree certain practices illegal, or subvert religious observances in favor of fealty to the state; and

WHEREAS, the Knights of Columbus dedicated its 18th Marian Prayer Program to Our Lady, Help of Persecuted Christians, thereby encouraging all Knights of Columbus families to pray that the Blessed Mother intercede on behalf of all those persecuted for their faith in her divine Son; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis has expressed his appreciation to the Knights of Columbus for our support of those “brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world suffering from…violent persecution,” which has been accomplished through our Persecuted Christians Fund, which committed over $30 million to support these communities in need.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Knights of Columbus stands in solidarity with all Christians around the world who are suffering from violent persecution, and we call on all Christians and people of good will to do the same; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we commend those nations providing support to religious minorities seeking to rebuild their lives after persecution and call on all governments and legislative bodies around the world to recognize this genocide against Christians and other religious minorities and to assist these persecuted communities; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call on the Government of the United States to continue an aggressive pursuit of religious liberty abroad through its engagement in international organizations and by the authority granted it in the International Religious Freedom Act, the Iraq and Syria Refugee Relief and Accountability Act, and other applicable statutes; and

FUTHER RESOLVED,that we call on the U.S. Department of State to relist Nigeria as a country of particular concern in light of the ongoing threat to Christians and moderate Muslims in the country; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Knights of Columbus pledges to continue providing assistance to those who are victims of atrocities, especially those Christians who have faced violent persecution because of their faith.

In Solidarity With Persecuted Christians

Resolutions