Persecution and misery in Sudan

#930 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 20 Jul 2014.

In many parts of our world, religious freedom continues to be eroded and denied, whether by radical secularists or religious extremists.

For example, South Sudan declared independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011.  Three years on, Sudan is pursuing Islamisation and ethnic-religious cleansing, while South Sudan has descended into chaos and civil war.  To the north, in Sudan, churches are being demolished as part of a systematic campaign of persecution aimed at driving Christians out of Sudan.

In South Sudan, corruption and conflict have crippled progress.  Some 1.5 million South Sudanese are displaced, living along with Nuba refugees from Sudan in over-crowded, disease-ridden camps.  Some four million people face famine.  The rainy season has started, the roads are closed and because there was no planting there will be no harvest.

Today, let us remember the Church in Sudan and South Sudan, that they may enjoy the peace and freedom of religion we take for granted.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.