Letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs on the situation of Christians in various countries of the Middle East and Africa
The Canadian Rabbinic Caucus and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have written a joint letter to the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, regarding the situation of Christians in various countries of the Middle East and Africa. The letter has been signed by the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and President of the CCCB, and by one of the three Co Chairs of the Caucus, Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl. In their letter, they state that “while we recognize that many religious and ethnic communities are subjected to prejudice in various countries, many observers have noted in recent years that Christians experience religious persecution more than any other faith group on a global scale and in absolute numbers.”
The letter is dated December 15, following the last day of the 2015 Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, and just 10 days before Christmas. This is a season filled with hope, faithfulness and expectation for Jews and Christians, and both Hanukkah and Christmas are symbolized by the celebration of light even in the midst of shadows and darkness.