Center for Civil and Human Rights co-hosts International Conference on Christian Response to Persecution | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Center for Civil and Human Rights co-hosts International Conference on Christian Response to Persecution Center for Civil and Human Rights co-hosts International Conference on Christian Response to Persecution Published: August 10, 2015 Author: Michael O. Garvey The University of Notre Dame’s Center for Civil and Human Rights, in partnership with Georgetown University’s Religious Freedom Project, is co-hosting the International Conference on Christian Response to Persecution. The conference, a major component of the first systematic global investigation of the persecution of Christians, will take place at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome on Dec. 10-12. The investigation, a project called “Under Caesar’s Sword,” has dispersed a team of 14 researchers, representing the world’s leading scholars of Christianity in their respective regions, around the world to some 100 beleaguered Christian communities in more than 30 countries including China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and India. Their findings will be publicized in the major international conference in Rome. Organizations that monitor human rights violations are widely in agreement that Christians constitute the world’s most widely persecuted religion. A recent report of The Pew Research Center found that between June 2006 and December 2012, Christians faced harassment and intimidation in 151 countries, more than any other religious group. According to Daniel Philpott, professor of political science and peace studies at Notre Dame and an organizer of the project, this persecution, despite being one of the largest classes of human rights violations in the world today, is insufficiently reported in the mainstream media and the human rights community. “That’s why we’re particularly pleased that our Rome conference is shaping up to be more robust than we ever imagined,” said Philpott. “We have been floored by the number of acceptances of our invitations from Christian leaders from all over the world, both at the top of their respective hierarchies and at the ground level, where there are powerful witnesses.” The conference will feature plenary speakers from among the world’s most respected advocates of religious freedom. Its goal is to draw public attention to the plight of persecuted Christian communities, promote cooperation among Christian churches in assisting these communities, and encourage global solidarity with them. In addition to documenting the persecution undergone by Christian communities, the researchers hope to study how the communities respond to it, whether simply by fleeing, forgiving, resisting non-violently or maneuvering in politics and diplomacy. “Through all of this, we hope to show solidarity with the world’s persecuted Christians, and learn to become better advocates for them,” Philpott said. “Our participation in ‘Under Caesar’s Sword’ is one way of living out Notre Dame’s Catholic mission,” Philpott said. “Being in solidarity with Christians who are giving the most profound witness imaginable is the quintessence of what the Church should be.” Contact: Daniel Philpott, 574-631-0573, Philpott.1@nd.edu, or Zahra Vieneuve, 574-631-7233, zvieneuv@nd.edu Posted In: International Faith Research Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related June 01, 2022 University of Notre Dame to establish consortium of Catholic universities to study Muslim-Christian relations January 31, 2022 New book explores the role of Catholic peacebuilders in addressing global mining issues November 05, 2020 USAID awards $8 million to Notre Dame to expand early literacy, learning programs September 09, 2020 Notre Dame signs agreement with Yad Vashem promoting Holocaust education and research November 13, 2019 Notre Dame researchers help Italian church communities address seismic risks For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn