The Rt Rev Dr Alexander MalikChristians in Pakistan face intense pressure from increasing religious extremism, says the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan.  The Rt Rev Dr Alexander Malik (at right), Anglican Bishop of Lahore, has told a New York audience that Muslims in Islamic countries tend to view all Christians with suspicion and distrust.  For many Pakistani Muslims, Osama bin Laden has become a larger-than-life hero.

"Capturing Osama will not solve the problem. (He) is an ideology now."
. . .
The growing Muslim extremism in Pakistan is leading some Christians to live abroad. "We are losing our intellectuals and professionals at a big rate," Malik said.

Malik receives threatening letters for speaking out in support of Christians in Pakistan. "But I have to defend my community," he said. "I have to give them hope."

The bishop wants to share that hope with others. "We have a message for the world – a message of love, peace and light – which we must spread," he said.

Most of that quoted passage appears near the end of the news story posted at the website of the United Methodist Church (UMC).  The article begins with some remarks about the increasingly perilous situation of Christians in Pakistan, then veers off to discuss the fact that women are “still” not ordained in the Church of Pakistan before finally getting around to mentioning the threats against Bp Malik.

Apparently, the UMC views women’s ordination as an issue of greater interest and import than Muslim extremists threatening a bishop for defending his flock and proclaiming the gospel.

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