Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has urged Christians in the UK to be more public about their faith in Jesus Christ. Writing in the Telegraph, he also highlighted the reluctance of Western governments to acknowledge the suffering endured by Christians in many parts of the world and called upon the UK Government to take action.
His encouragement to Christians came in the closing paragraphs of his article:
"Closer to home, I admit I am worried about the future of faith in the West. Many Christians I meet say there is a pressure on them to be silent about their faith. Though there can be no question of a comparison with the powerlessness and weakness of the Church in the Middle East, there is an increasing timidity on the part of churchgoers in the West – about even admitting that they have a faith in the workplace.
"Just a week ago, an American, learning that I was going to write this Christmas message, said teasingly: “I hope you will mention the name of Jesus!” Well, that is what Christmas is all about and I cannot but speak his name."