PAKISTAN: CHRISTIANS MUM THIS CHRISTMAS

J. Grant Swank, Jr.


Worship will continue in Christian churches. Clerics will officiate in services commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.


Throngs will appear in the sanctuaries due to the Christian faith remaining strong.


However, what goes on outside the church buildings will be practically nil due to laws stipulating Islam as the only acceptable religion.


“Adopted in 1986 under the rule of then Pakistan dictator Zia-ul-Haq, these laws impose life in prison or the death penalty on anyone who desecrates the Qur‘an or defiles the name of Muhammad” per AsiaNews.it’s “Fear of new attacks means ‘silent’ Christmas for Christians” at http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=17086&size=A


Wreaths will not hang on residential doors.


Carol singing in neighborhoods will be zip.


Christmas plays in outdoors are not being scheduled.


Public display of Christmas is practically null and
void because of widespread fear.


Pakistani Christians have suffered churches burnt and lives lost in burst of violence against them because they do not adhere to the Koran or recognize Allah as deity.


“Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, archbishop of Lahore and president of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, told AsiaNews that 2009 is going to end in a ‘silent Christmas’ because the country’s situation is very bad.”


Read more at http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=17086&size=A