Bandow on Christian persecution: U.S. vs. ROW

Doug Bandow in The American Spectator (with some interesting comments underneath) on an important distinction...

"The persecution of Christianity in America has begun," complains Rick Scarborough of Vision America. He points to criticism of Christian supporters of California's Proposition 8, banning gay marriage, and cites an email to him "so vile that I cannot reprint the letter." He asks for contributions "to assist us as we confront the growing threat of domestic terror being perpetrated by homosexual activists."

It's always troubling to see these complaints followed close afterwards by appeals for funds. I cite Scarborough's Enough Is Enough in my book, bringing attention to its hilarious cover photo. (The second edition of this light, regrettable book is not as sad/funny.)

The protests against Prop 8 backers, particularly the Mormon Church and individual Mormons, took an ugly turn. There may even be "growing hostility against religion in America and particularly against Christians," as Scarborough asserts, at least in the cultural realm. But this hostility does not amount to persecution....

Some Christians may be treated badly, but Christians are not being persecuted. In America, that is.

Elsewhere in the world there is persecution of Christians and other religious believers. Real persecution....

The Hudson Institute recently released Religious Freedom in the World, edited by Paul Marshall (published by Rowman & Littlefield). The book rates 101 countries, with 95 percent of the world's population. Twenty of these nations are not free. Another 40 are only partly free.

In general, Christian and Western countries are likely to be free. Muslim societies and Communist or former Communist systems are likely to be unfree or only partly free....

In many of these countries everyone is oppressed. But religious believers often are singled out for particularly harsh treatment....

There are Christian martyrs today just as there were two thousand years ago. Persecution is real. But not in America. Cultural and social hostility doesn't count. Christians still enjoy a privileged existence in America. We should use our advantages here to help believers in other countries who face persecution and sometimes death for their faith. Even if all we can do is pray, we must seek to be our brother's keeper.