CV NEWS FEED // The Catholic Herald has published an article on the growing phenomena of Christianophobia, and how it is manifesting on a global scale.
The article highlights one of the most recent global examples, attacks on Catholic churches on the French territory New Caledonia, a group of South Pacific islands east of Australia and north of New Zealand with a population of 270,000. Fifty-two percent of the population, including the native population, is baptized. This summer, four Catholic churches have been set on fire. The most recent arson attack was on August 14.
The violence in New Caledonia started in May when the native Kanaks started a movement for independence; however, the Kanak independence movement condemned the attacks on churches. Only Catholic churches have been attacked, with the country’s Protestant churches remaining unscathed.
Some believe that the Eastern European country Azerbaijan, which is 97% Muslim, instigated the violence against Catholicism in New Caledonia, as Azerbaijan decided to undermine French authority in the region after France supported Armenia in its conflict against Azerbaijan.
The article highlighted other growing persecutions of Christians worldwide, including the 1,000 attacks against Catholics in France. The country’s most persecuted religious group is Christians. There has been a growing number of attacks against Jews since the Hamas attack on Israel. Muslims and their houses of worship are the least likely religious group to be attacked in France.
The United States has also experienced growing violence against Christians, with 436 attacks occurring in 2023, which CatholicVote tracks as well.
Canada has experienced 96 attacks on Catholic churches in the past two years, which increased after the media published unverified claims about a residential school having mass graves of indigenous children. Residential schools were often operated by the Catholic Church.
When St. Gregory’s Church in British Columbia was razed in July 2021, the Native American Chief Clarence Louie, of the Osoyoos Indian Band, lamented the attack. However, he added, “I don’t think white people came here and burned this down.”
The article concluded, “Islamophobia may make headlines in the western mainstream media, but it’s ‘Christianophobia’ that is on the rise.”
