Persecution

Vice President Pence to visit Israel and Egypt in December - AP
AP reports: "Vice President Mike Pence announced Wednesday that he will travel to Israel and Egypt in late December, and said the U.S. will redirect funds aimed at helping persecuted Christians and other minorities away from the United Nations. [...] Pence complained that Christians and other persecuted people in the Middle East have not been getting the relief they need, and accused the U.N. of having 'too often failed to help the most vulnerable communities, especially religious minorities.[...] From this day forward, America will provide support directly to persecuted communities through USAID,' said Pence. 'Our fellow Christians and all who are persecuted in the Middle East should not have to rely on multinational institutions when America can help them directly.' [...] Pence bemoaned an 'unprecedented assault' on Christianity 'in those ancient lands where it first grew,' pointing to incidents like the Palm Sunday church bombings targeting Coptic Christians in Egypt and attacks on Christian communities in Syria."

Comment: It's great to see more attention being paid to the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Pence's visit and the promise of more funding promises to raise the profile of the Christian community and help them see they are not alone.