We have just passed All Souls Day and All Saints Day on the traditional Christian calendar,  days which emphasize our belief that we are bound together in the communion of saints.  Given this belief, it is fitting that those two days of remembrance should be followed so closely by the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, November 8.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to speak out against the proposed U.N. resolution on religious defamation believing it would limit freedom of speech.  Meanwhile, many advocates of religious liberty have expressed concerns that the Obama administration has not sent strong enough signals on its commitment to religious freedom, particularly to countries like China which have a history of human rights abuses.   But while the debates continue and advocacy groups seek policy solutions, the persecution of people of faith continues, in dozens of countries including India, North Korea and Iran.

The International Day of Prayer is set aside as a time for Christians to remember thousands of our brothers and sisters who undergo religious persecution, from the loss of jobs or expulsion from schools to arrests, beatings, and executions.  Thousands of churches in 150 countries will join together in prayer this Sunday, expressing solidarity with our suffering family.  For my part, I am grateful for the reminder that where policies and public advocacy seem fail, prayer remains a powerful force available to all of us.