The Catholic News Agency reports that the Archbishop of Edinburgh has criticized the U.K.’s “anti-Christian foreign policy” after the government announced it would double aid to Pakistan without conditions. Cardinal Keith O’Brien said:
Foreign Secretary William Hague should “obtain guarantees from foreign governments before they are given aid,” ensuring that Christians and other religious minorities in countries like Pakistan would not be deprived of their basic religious rights.
The cardinal made his remarks at the Glasgow launch of a new report on religious persecution, compiled by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Their report “Persecuted and Forgotten?” shows that 75 percent of all worldwide anti-religious activity is now directed against Christians.
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Cardinal O’Brien’s comments support the stance of Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, who heads up the Pakistan bishops’ conference, who previously stated that foreign aid should only be given on the condition that religious minorities are protected.