Rochester, MN — Bishop Robert Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (MN) and founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, announced today that proceeds from his latest book, What Do Their Deaths Demand?, will be donated to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to support emergency relief efforts in Nigeria.
The funds will directly support ACN’s relief project for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Makurdi, Nigeria—providing sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, dignity kits, and water cans to 1,000 Christians who have been forced from their homes by terrorism and ongoing violent attacks.
Christians remain the most persecuted religious group in the world, with an estimated 360 to 380 million facing high levels of hostility in their home countries. What Do Their Deaths Demand? was written to bear witness to that reality and call the world to respond.
“The suffering Church is not an abstraction — these are our brothers and sisters, driven from their homes for the simple act of professing Christ,” said Bishop Barron. “What Do Their Deaths Demand? was written so that their stories would not be forgotten. I am grateful to partner with Aid to the Church in Need to ensure that this book does more than bear witness — that it delivers real, tangible help to those who need it most.”
“Aid to the Church in Need has been on the ground with persecuted Christians for over 75 years, and we know that the difference between despair and hope is often something as simple as a blanket or a clean water supply,” said Edward F. Clancy, ACNUSA Director of Outreach. “Bishop Barron’s generosity and his willingness to use his platform to amplify the suffering of Christians in Nigeria is a powerful act of solidarity — and it will save lives.”
These acts of Christian persecution are an unconscionable violation of human rights, and Bishop Barron authored What Do Their Deaths Demand? in order to highlight this important issue.
What Do Their Deaths Demand? is available for only $2 per copy. For more information and to support the mission of the suffering Church, visit wof.org/persecution.