Merkel persecution comments slammed
Opposition politicians and human rights groups have criticised German Chancellor Angela Merkel for claiming that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion worldwide".
Jerzy Montag, of the opposition Greens party, described Mrs Merkel's comments as "mistaken" and "not very helpful".
Rights campaigners said ranking faiths according to how persecuted they are is pointless.
Human Rights Watch noted that Muslims in Burma, members of Falun Gong in China and Jews in many countries worldwide also face persecution.
Mrs Merkel's comments came at a meeting of the German Protestant Church on Monday in which she emphasised Germany needed to protect Christian minorities as part of its foreign policy.
Mrs Merkel, the daughter of a pastor, also spoke out against strict separation of church and state and said Europe was built on Christian foundations.
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Henry S Pace
Nov 7th 2012, 12:08
.' Christianity is "the most persecuted religion worldwide '
This is happening also in MALTA
E. Azzopardi
Nov 7th 2012, 11:58
She is right. These are facts which nobody can deny.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Nov 7th 2012, 11:58
Confining myself to this news item only it would appear that Human Rights Watch is very much concerned with the "order of merit" among persecuted religions and not at all about the classification of persecuting countries (with special reference to the treatment of other religions in Islamic states.
Albert Critien
Nov 7th 2012, 09:02
Thank you Mrs Merkel, we now know that CHRIST ians are cared for by someone that matters
Anthony Galea
Nov 7th 2012, 08:12
Might I point out that Merkel was referring to persecuted Christians like those of Nigeria or Egypt?
In fact quote 'Mrs Merkel's comments came at a meeting of the German Protestant Church on Monday in which she emphasised Germany needed to protect Christian minorities as part of its foreign policy'.
Peter Bonello
Nov 7th 2012, 07:49
What Angela Merkel said is true. Europe is build on Christian foundation... the problem is that illegal immigration is changing this.. and since they are the ones escaping from their environment, I also fear the worst for our beloved Europe!!!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Nov 7th 2012, 06:45
Secularists insist that they be allowed to criticise vehemently (for which read to "persecute" all religions and their adherents) without being precisely identified as persecutors themselves.
Sandro Pace
Nov 7th 2012, 01:02
Merkel is a Christian Democrat, and is being both Christian and democratic, because Christian Democracy is a great political force in Germany and beyond. Germany is a modern and affluent country, which fortunately do not shy off its Christian heritage, or strive for total secularism. Contrary to what many think, the liberals have no monopoly over modernism or the EU. Go on Merkel, you are right.
Peter Bonello
Nov 7th 2012, 07:50
100% Agree!!
John Azzopoardi
Nov 6th 2012, 23:49
she said the right thing. Look at what is happening to chrisitans in the middle east - iraq, syria, iran, egypt, etc and Africa - Keyna, Nigeria, etc.
Eve Axiaq
Nov 6th 2012, 23:01
Its so true. Christians are being persecuted in Eygpt, Syria, Nigeria, Northern India and now in Kenya again. Persecuted mostly by Muslims and extremism is on the rise thanks to the Arab Spring.
Very sadly in the European Union it is being considered as shameful when someone speaks about faith and values. Christian countries including Malta should join with Angela Merkel.
Lino Busuttil
Nov 6th 2012, 22:53
As to Nigeria, Egypt, any Islamic country where bombs and bullets fly in churches what Merkel said is true.
Even atheist find it easier to attack Christianity than other religions. One more truth is that Islamic clerics in some countries foment these persecution mentality by interpreting their books to instigate violence, in some cases escalating to acts like September 11 and London bombings.
Henry S Pace
Nov 6th 2012, 21:48
' Christianity is "the most persecuted religion worldwide".
This is a faCT - Worldwide
Victor Schembri
Nov 6th 2012, 20:09
Sewwa qalet. Mhux il boghod mill-verita.
Joseph N. Attard
Nov 6th 2012, 19:04
At last. A European leader with enough guts to speak the truth.
Mario Farrugia
Nov 6th 2012, 18:14
The very fact that Mrs Merkel has been severely criticized for her opinion only goes to emphasize how right she is!
The shameful, modern-day intolerance towards anything to do with Christianity, its values or its followers is most worrying indeed.
Mr Peter Korsten
Nov 6th 2012, 21:56
You're confusing intolerance with refusing to have someone else's religious beliefs stuffed down your throat. In Malta there may be freedom of religion, but there's no freedom FROM religion. Whenever yo do something, there will be somebody waving his holy book about, chastising you because you don't believe the same things that he does.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Nov 7th 2012, 11:08
@PeterKorsten
There is no such thing as your pretended right to freedom from religion.
You are trying to stuff your atheism down the unwilling throat of Catholics practicing their fundamental human right to practice their religion, in their Catholic country, regardless of your allergy to that faith.
Try an antihistaminic or, better still, remove yourself from the cause of your allergy.
Robert Callus
Nov 6th 2012, 17:43
"also spoke out against strict separation of church and state"
Using the most effective strategy to impose religion - persecution complex. It's being used here in Malta too. http://robertcallus.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/your-religion-is-not-under-threat-get-over-it/
Anthony Galea
Nov 6th 2012, 19:21
I'm sorry, Robert, but your comment seems dangerously indifferent to the real suffering of persecuted Christians worldwide. Think of those Nigerians who left home to celebrate mass and never came back because they were blown up; imagine telling their families 'Get over your persecution complex!'
Robert Callus
Nov 6th 2012, 20:52
Not at all Anthony. In fact in my article I mention the Nigerian and Egyptian Christians. Or the Poles under the Communists. And my heart goes out for them, honestly.
The ones I'm telling "get over it" are today's Germans or Maltese. Who aren't persecuted in any way but try to profiteer from the persecution of others as a premise to impose their religion.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Nov 7th 2012, 08:57
@RobertCallus
In Malta there is a genuine full separation of Church from State. Only the former legislates, the latter only teaches. Denying that obvious fact is to harass malevontly the Malta Catholics. This persecution is very real. It is not an abnormal "psychiatric complex" or a delusional false paranoid belief. To realize this fact you only need to read some comments in these blogs.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Nov 7th 2012, 09:16
@RobertCallus.
How can you keep a straight face when fibbing " ... Maltese who aren't persecuted IN ANY WAY ... ". Don't you read the vicious attacks and insults in the local media against our bishops for dutifully TEACHING Christ's message to the faithful? Or is it that in your opinion Christians are persecuted only if thrown to the lions or if blown up when praying in church?
Anthony Galea
Nov 7th 2012, 13:19
Might I point out that Merkel was referring to persecuted Christians like those of Nigeria or Egypt?
In fact quote 'Mrs Merkel's comments came at a meeting of the German Protestant Church on Monday in which she emphasised Germany needed to protect Christian minorities as part of its foreign policy'.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Nov 7th 2012, 14:03
Apologies: My second sentence in the comment to Robert Callus at 08:57 should evidently read " Only the State legislates. The Church only teaches"
Please choose the reason of your report below: