What Do Their Deaths Demand?
What Do Their Deaths Demand?
Christian Persecution Today
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Christianity is, by far, the most persecuted religion in the world today. The twentieth century saw more Christian martyrs than all the other centuries combined, yet this violence against Christians, in both word and deed, continues to this day. Over three hundred million Christians around the world face high degrees of hostility, and it is estimated that more than five thousand Christians are killed annually for their faith.
What do their deaths demand? The violent killing and persecution of Christians all over the globe puts this question to every one of us—especially members of the Church who live and worship in relative comfort and ease. What are we doing to help our brothers and sisters? Indeed, do we even hear their cries at all?
In What Do Their Deaths Demand? Christian Persecution Today, Bishop Robert Barron invites us to consider these urgent questions. Encounter the real stories of people persecuted for their faith, the spiritual dynamics behind the violence and oppression, and practical suggestions for what you can do about it—starting now.
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What People are Saying
“It is hard to believe that even today—indeed, I would say especially today—many of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world are suffering because of their faith. This book by Bishop Robert Barron comes at a crucial moment. It is a raw, necessary, and urgent testimony. I thank Bishop Barron for having so carefully and courageously gathered the voices of the martyrs of our time, giving them an echo that cannot and must not be ignored.”
—Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from the foreword
“While the persecution of Christians today is no surprise—Jesus told us to expect it—it still is a shock! We can no longer ignore the expansive, systematic harassment and savagery against the followers of the prince of peace. Thanks, Bishop Barron, for your advocacy.”
—Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop emeritus of New York
“Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world by far. Bishop Robert Barron’s timely and poignant new book, What Do Their Deaths Demand?, sheds light on the horrific persecution our brothers and sisters across the globe face for professing their faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful for Bishop Barron’s willingness to call out persecution everywhere it occurs—both at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists in places like Nigeria and Syria and also with the ‘soft persecution’ we see in the West at the hands of an increasingly aggressive secular culture. This is a timely and important work that every Christian should read.”
—Representative Riley M. Moore (R), West Virginia
“In our divided political climate, Americans have to come together and seek common ground on the issues that unite us. One of those issues, fundamental to our nation’s founding, is religious freedom. As Bishop Barron shows in this brief but galvanizing book, millions of Christians around the world—in countries like Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and China—are being tormented simply for being Christian. We need to hear their cries, take concrete steps to support them, and promote the right to worship here at home. Reading and sharing this book is a great start.”
—Representative Tom Suozzi (D), New York
“How many Christians know that we live in the greatest moment of Christian persecution in two millennia, or why that’s the case, or realize what believers can do about it? Bishop Barron provides an informative and challenging introduction to living in solidarity with the hundreds of millions today who, like the first disciples, daily risk their lives ‘for the name’ of the Lord Jesus (Acts 5:41).”
—George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
“The world has begun to notice how millions of Christians in dozens of countries around the world are being persecuted and, in increasing numbers, even martyred. Bishop Barron provides a brief but remarkably full overview of this phenomenon in this short book. But even more importantly, he explains in clear terms why such injustices have happened from ancient times down to our own: the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and of those who follow him in every age. And Bishop Barron concludes with recommendations about what all of us can and must do: pray, of course, but also stay informed, support organizations that support the persecuted, and challenge our cultural and political institutions to protect Christians everywhere, including in our highly secularized Western nations.”
—Robert Royal, author of The Martyrs of the New Millennium
“What Do Their Deaths Demand? is a clear, concise examination of Christian persecution in our time. Bishop Robert Barron reminds us that the martyrs are not distant headlines but members of Christ’s own body. Their suffering is a direct call to our conscience. With theological precision, he places modern martyrdom within the Church’s enduring witness and cuts through the complacency of the West. He calls Catholics to a sober, courageous response: prayer, public witness, and practical support for persecuted communities. This timely work deserves the attention of every Christian.”
—George J. Marlin, chairman, Aid to the Church in Need USA