Sheffield’s Catholic cathedral was bathed in red light (on Wednesday November 23) as part of a campaign against the persecution of Christians around the world.
The initiative is the brainchild of the charity Aid to the Church in Need as part of its campaign to ‘Break the Silence’ on the persecution of Christians.
The exterior of the Cathedral was bathed in red light and its Sanctuary was draped in red as part of the campaign.
Fr Christopher Posluszny, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St Marie, on Sheffield’s Norfolk Row, said: “Research shows that Christians suffer persecution – from harassment to murder – in more countries than any other faith group, yet this often passes un-noticed.
“St Marie’s will be joining with Catholic churches around the country as part of the Aid to the Church in Need campaign to highlight the persecution of Christians and all faiths globally.
“The event was all the more poignant as it coincided with the anniversary of the Dedication of St Marie’s, so as we marked our freedom to worship in this Cathedral we remembered those who not only lack that freedom but also suffer for their faith.”
- Research by the independent, US-based think tank, The Pew Research Center (correct), found that Christians suffer persecution in more countries than any other faith group
- Aid to the Church in Need reports that violations of religious freedom occur in 62 out of 196 countries and that 67 per cent of people in the world live in countries where grave religious persecution occurs. Since 2018 people have been killed as a result of religious persecution in 30 countries
For more information, please contact Fr Christopher Posluszny, tel: 0114 272 2522, e-mail: [email protected].
