In Pakistan, 'Living the Faith is a New Challenge Every Day'

Catholic News Agency ^ | 12/28/14 | Reinhard Backes

[marshmallow]

Faisalabad, Pakistan, Dec 28, 2014 / 06:03 am (Aid to the Church in Need).- The brutality of the act can hardly be surpassed: in early November, a Christian couple was beaten and burned to death in the Pakistani province of Punjab.

Both were in their early 30s, the wife was pregnant. The charge: desecration of the Quran. The background: Article 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code, the blasphemy law, which does more to promote than prevent the arbitrary use of power against persons of different religions.

The act put the spotlight on the situation of minorities in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Bishop Joseph Arshad of Faisalabad, in north-western Pakistan, makes no bones about the difficulties facing non-Muslims, and especially Christians, each every day. He told international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need: “The influence of the fundamentalists has grown immeasurably over the past few years. Anything can happen at any time. For this reason, many fellow countrymen who do want change choose to remain silent.”

Bishop Arshad is placing his hopes in young people: more than a third of the 180 million Pakistanis are younger than 15.

“Sixty per cent of Pakistanis are illiterate. We can make a change through education. In doing so, we also want to reach those who are not able to go to school. Our country has few very rich and very many poor people.”

“What is missing is a middle class” as a force of moderation, the prelate said, adding that “to change this situation for the better, however, all political and social powers have to work together.”

For one thing, the bishop feels it is important to maintain good relations with Muslim leaders.

[SIRTRIS]

“Sixty per cent of Pakistanis are illiterate. We can make a change through education. In doing so, we also want to reach those who are not able to go to school. Our country has few very rich and very many poor people.”

Islam is perfectly made for the ignorant & the illiterate seeking a false escape from their misery! Oh, it’s also ideal for the male dominating the family & their females.

[cloudmountain]

“What is missing is a middle class” as a force of moderation, the prelate said, adding that “to change this situation for the better, however, all political and social powers have to work together.”

Amen to that. Middle classes leaven the world.

I lived in both first and third world (middle east and Mexico) countries and visited second world (commie) countries and life seems to be much the same everywhere. Strong men/women and weak men/women are in every culture. Money gives the rich SOME choices while the poor have almost no choice.

However, everyone, from the wealthy, middle or poor classes, has the choice to do good or evil and we seem to be a mix of both. The BEST of us all are 51% good. I'll take that any day.

I discovered that the poorest child CAN be a real SPOILED brat. It depends on how often the brat got his/her way. Conversely, the wealthiest or middle class child CAN be solid gold. Values and morals can or canNOT be inculcated into children's lives; it's not always a given.
It's EXPECTED that middle class children are steered in the right and holy directions. I was and often I go where I should on that path.

Just an opinion.

[cloudmountain]

I was in the Cairo Airport and long time ago and we were BEAT.
There was ONE stinkin' empty seat left in the ENTIRE airport. It was next to a Muslim woman, complete with black abbaya over her, and that seat was "occupied" by a Koran.
I was BEAT and asked her to move the Koran so I could sit down. She ignored me and I KNEW that she understood every word I said. I asked her again and again I was ignored.
THEN I said: "If you don't move it I will SIT on it."

I proceeded to start to sit down ON the Koran and she got ALL hot and bothered, raising her voice at me. I was TICKED. I gave it right back to her.

"You KNEW I needed a seat and you IGNORED me."
"I ASKED you TWICE to move your Koran and you IGNORED me."
"You were just being a JERK!"
"You have ONE seat for a book that you can hold on your LAP."
"You are just being mean and selfish!"

NO one said a word to me. NO one batted an eye.
I was right and EVERYone saw it and heard it. I sat down right next to the nasty woman. I looked her straight in the eye, gave her a dirty look and read my book.

We American women COULD get away with a lot. I was never unreasonable and only got righteously TICKED occasionally, ALWAYS appropriately.

لحمد لله‎