CV NEWS FEED // International Christian Concern (ICC) is praising Brian Burch, the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, for pledging to make the defense of persecuted Christians a top focus of his diplomatic mission.
“Brian Burch’s bold stand against Christian persecution offers hope to millions under siege,” said ICC President Jeff King in an emailed press release. “From Nigeria’s killing fields to China’s secret prisons, Christians are dying and being tortured for their faith. Burch could be a game-changer in their fight for survival.”
Burch, the president of CatholicVote, delivered his remarks during his April 8 Senate confirmation hearing. He emphasized the need for the United States and the Vatican to form a united front against religious persecution in hotspots like the Middle East, Africa, Nicaragua, and China.
“If confirmed, I look forward to collaborating with the Vatican to tackle this pressing issue,” Burch told Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
According to the ICC’s 2025 Global Persecution Index, more than 5,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria by Boko Haram and Fulani militants in 2024 alone. Since 2004, nearly 100,000 Christians have lost their lives in similar attacks.
>> Targeted Christian killings continue in Nigeria: 28 dead in past month <<
In Nicaragua, the Ortega regime has expelled or jailed more than 200 priests since 2018, while in China, the Communist Party continues to persecute Catholic leaders, detaining bishops and shutting down unregistered churches, according to ICC.
Burch also voiced criticism of the Vatican’s agreement with the Chinese government regarding the appointment of bishops.
“I would encourage the Vatican to resist the idea that a foreign government has any role in choosing the leadership of a private religious institution,” Burch said during the hearing.
Burch also emphasized the need for the Holy See to maintain firm pressure on the Chinese Communist Party, especially in response to “their human rights abuses, particularly their persecution of religious minorities, including Catholics.”
>> Religious freedom watchdog questions ‘appointment’ of Catholic bishop in China <<
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