"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

The legislation is supported by many large religious groups in the U.S., including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the United MethodistChurch, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Many Jewish and Muslim groups have also endorsed the legislation.

The Jundullah wing of the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks. A spokesman said, “They [Christians] are the enemies of Islam, therefore wetarget them.”

It provided sanctuary for the Holy Family. And later produced some of the Church's greatest minds: Tertullian, Origen and the greatdefender of orthodoxy, Athanasius.

The writer of this article urges all of us to call or email our representatives in Congress and the White House. He says, "The U.S. must speakout and condemn the targeting and murder of Egyptian Christians."

The Coptic Christian churches were vandalized, and in many cases set on fire, in a surge of anti-Christian violence after the Aug. 14 raid andensuing violence that led to the deaths of more than 900 Morsi supporters.

In the four days since security forces cleared two sit-in camps by Morsi supporters, Islamists have attacked dozens of Coptic churches,along with homes and businesses owned by the Christian minority.

That’s because the change creates a penalty for those who ever exhibit a “bias,” which clearly could include adopting the Bible’scondemnation of homosexuality, with a permanent ban on participation in city government, business or employment.

Five Egyptian Christians were killed and dozens injured in scattered violence following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, accordingto a report from Morningstar News.

He added that the Middle East, Africa and Asia are the regions that witness the most violations against religious freedoms and blamed sectarian incitement, fanaticism and terrorism.

The Central Assembles of God Church (AOG), Iran's largest Persian-speaking Pentecostal church, was closed during a worship service on Monday,according to BosNewsLife. Its pastor, Robert Asserian, was detained on May 21 and moved to an unknown location.

“When the IRS comes in, you’re not allowed to be shoddy, you’re not allowed to be run horribly, you’re not allowed to make mistakes, you’renot allowed to do one d— thing that doesn’t come in compliance,” Kelly blasted. “If you do, you’re held responsible right then.”

Both the BGEA and Samaritan's Purse passed the audits and retained their tax-exempt status. But Franklin Graham says the audits, which"wasted" ministry time and money, were not "coincidence" or "justifiable."

A Nigerian human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has accused the U.S. Department of State of enabling Islamist militant group Boko Haram bymischaracterizing their actions in that country which have resulted in the death of more than 1,000 Christians and other civilians since 2012.

According to various report, over 900 Christian were killed in Nigeria in 2012 for no other reason than subscribing to the Christian faith.Many victims died at the hands of Islamic militants attached to the extremist group Boko Haram.

The ACLJ called that a "sham trail," however, noting that the real reason behind Abedini's sentence was his faith.

Soldiers in the U.S. military have been told in a training briefing that evangelical Christians are the No. 1 extremist threat to America – ahead of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, KKK, Nation of Islam, al-Qaida, Hamas and others

"The State Department is AWOL -- they are absent without leave."

The first phase began last year, from January to June. The State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) secretly investigated housechurches across the country and created files on them. It is estimated that there are between 45 million and 60 million house-church members.The government has banned the term "house church."

The second phase, which is being implemented now, is to try to convince churches to become part of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement(TSPM),the legal, government-controlled church. Most underground Christian object to TSPM beliefs. If they do join TSPM they will be called"house gatherings."

The third phase is expected to begin from 2015 through to 2025, when the government would shut down house churches that do not comply withthe requirement to join the TSPM.

To date, no top-ranking military officials have been held responsible for the massacre and only three soldiers have been sentencedwith short prison terms on charges of involuntary manslaughter for their role in the deaths of fourteen protestors.

"Yet increased pressure over the last decade has not crushed the evangelical churches, which are growing by 5 percent annually. 'Aprayer and renewal movement has burst onto the scene in recent years with many thousands from all the major churches participating.'”

North Korea topped Open Doors' list for the 11th year in a row...The group estimates that as many as 70,000 Christians areimprisoned in North Korea simply for being Christian, and the act of carrying a Bible can result in execution.

On the other hand, China has improved, moving down on the persecution list from No. 21 in 2011 to No. 37 in 2012.

A statement from Hobby Lobby says, "The company will continue to provide health insurance to all qualified employees. To remain true to theirfaith, it is not their intention, as a company, to pay for abortion-inducing drugs." Contraception is not the the issue, but some of thegovernment-approved methods will stop the growth of a fertilized egg.

As a result the government could fine Hobby Lobby $1.3 million per day! That would be the "death knell" for the company.

Apparently, that death would be more desirable to the company's owners than potentially funding the deaths of developing human beings.

And of course, it’s not just Nigeria. Entire Christian communities have disappeared in Iraq. In Syria, Christians are being targeted by Islamist radicals mixed in with the Syrian opposition forces.