A Present Day Martyr; Canonize Shahbaz Bhatti!
On 2 March Shahbaz Bhatti minister for Minority Affairs in Pakistan was reported assassinated while working hard to the defend Asia Bibi, a 45-year-old Christian woman condemned to death by hanging for the alleged crime of blasphemy. As if of some premonition, he foresaw his possible death coming when recording a video, “I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us, and I am ready to die for a cause.” (See Shahbaz Bhatti, Wikipedia, sub title: Assassination)
Bhatti had always staunchly opposed the mistreatment of non-Muslims, even as a student leader, campaigning against the blasphemy laws introduced by General Zia. His focus was to stop the abuse of religion as a divisive force and one of persecution. In 2010 he strove continuously to introduce amendments to the blasphemy laws in the hope to one day garnish enough support to have a bill of amendments brought before the National Assembly and accepted. It seems it was not to the liking of some.
The General Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan, which met from 20 to 25 March in Multan, Punjab, formulated a proposal to submit to the Holy See a formal request to declare the Catholic Minister Shahbaz Bhatti a “martyr”.
Canonising Shabaz Bhatti would give a model of modern heroism to the Catholic Church. Many face conditions of persecution and political turmoil in several countries around the world, as for example recently in Egypt. It would constitute a sign of the Church’s loving concern for her devoted sons and daughters who are being discriminated against and persecuted for their fidelity to the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti has been a great blow to Pakistan. More disturbing, however, was the tepid reaction of the great majority, including intellectuals and members of civil society.
Let us not do the same.
It is time for us to resolve that the model Shahbaz has given us won’t be forgotten. (To sign the petition, please click the link)
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I pray that Shabbaz Bhatti will be canonized as a Saint by the Roman Catholic Church He died a Maryr to defend Christ’s Kingdom and Our Lady in the course of time will reveal to his fellow countrymen the supreme sacrifice he made in their names.
Ils n’oseront pas, ce serait désavouer le “dialogue” si cher aux post-conciliaires.
(They will not do that because it is not good for the “dialogue”…)
We catholics are prisonners here in Western Countries as in heathen countries.