Attacks over the past week on Christian churches and schools in Egypt has drawn worldwide attention to the longtime tension that has existed between the nation's minority Christians and its Muslim population.
The current violence stems from a belief by extremist Islamic groups that Christians backed the July overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi. To help put Egypt's religious population in perspective, The Pew Research Center has broken down the numbers of Christians living as minorities in Muslim countries. In addition to being a minority group in Egypt, Coptic Christians are also among the first Christians in the world, starting with their first church in Alexandria.
In addition, USA Today has created an interactive map with real-time updates on attacks on Christian institutions in Egypt.
We say: Charlottesville reveals the weeping wound of racism. What do we, the American Catholic faith community, do next? Read the editorial.
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