Pakistani Archbishop His Grace Joseph Coutts sees his upcoming elevation to the rank of cardinal as a sign of papal concern for a country coping with the heightened presence of extremist groups. His Excellency Coutts warned that his country is facing the threat of growing extremism from those pushing for a strict Islamic state.
As reported by CNA, His Excellency Coutts remarked that “The general atmosphere of religious freedom encapsulated in the nation’s founding has been eroded and now faces new threats from more radical strains of Islamic thought seeping into the country. There are Muslims who say, ‘We have no problem with democracy, it does not clash with Islamic thinking, and that’s why we are a democracy’, But the extremists don’t accept democracy, they don’t accept the international declaration of human rights, they say it’s not Islamic.” Further, His Grace added, “We’ve always had these kinds of people on the fringes, but they weren’t dominant. Now they are becoming more assertive. Being made a cardinal will not have much practical effect on the Church’s role in the country. But what the red hat does signify is Pope Francis’ concern for Pakistan and the Christian presence in the nation.”
The Catholic Church in Pakistan is a leading presence in works of charity and has long spoken out on behalf of minority rights, condemning persecution, specifically related to the country’s anti-blasphemy law, which His Grace Coutts said is very easily manipulated, as reported by CNA.
