A Catholic organisation has paid for a Christmas billboard in the hope of increasing awareness of Christian persecution worldwide.
Catholic League planned to put up the billboard starting on December 28 at Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Catholic civil rights group has high hopes that the billboard message will recognise the Christian culture amidst the atheist environment.
In a press release, Catholic League president Bill Donohue said, "For the past several years, we've been engaged in a battle of the billboards with our atheist foes at Christmastime."
The message on the billboard says:
"Not all Christian haters are equal:
Abroad we're beheaded
At home we're bashed.
The differences are profound;
So are the similarities.
Have a peaceful and joyous Christmas."
The message emphasises the persecutions of Christians around the world. It reiterates the discrimination of religious practices, which is "unacceptable", said Donohue.
"No, the Hollywood moguls who disrespect Christians are not the same as radical Muslims who behead us, but both are full of hate," Donohue said. "Christians are fed up with the barbarians abroad and the bigots at home," he continued, saying that "it's time all these bullies learned to practice the virtue of tolerance and the meaning of diversity."