Based on our experience, we would like to offer some safety advice to people who convert to Catholicism, especially from Islam, but also from other religions, or to those living in nations governed by atheist regimes.
The first commandment for those who become Christians is to love everyone.
This means loving even the people who hurt you. Protect yourself and defend yourself prudently, without ever forgetting that you are called to love even people who are not your friends and also those who consider you their enemy.
Jesus taught us:
“I give you a new commandment: that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another.”
and
“You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven; he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is extraordinary? Do not even the pagans do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
- DO NOT TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR CONVERSION
Do not talk about your conversion even to your family members or friends, until you live independently from your family or from other people who could put you in danger. - PROTECT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CONVERSION
Do not leave traces on your PC, smartphone, SMS messages, books, or diaries. Delete your history and pay attention to automatic backups of your phone or e-mail. Empty the trash and the folders containing deleted posts/e-mails. Pay attention to images, holy cards, and printed prayers. - AVOID CHANGES THAT ARE TOO OBVIOUS
Avoid suddenly changing the way you dress or behave. Changes that happen too quickly can provoke dangerous reactions from your family or other people close to you. - IT IS BETTER THAT NO ONE SEES YOU IF YOU GO TO HOLY MASS OR PRAY
Always choose times when you are alone and, if you go to church, pay particular attention to your safety. If possible, go to a place where people do not know you. - IF YOU CANNOT RECEIVE BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY
God sees your heart and, if there is a serious risk to your life or to the lives of your family members, you should know that in case of danger of death you can receive baptism from any Christian. The person baptizing you must do so with water, saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” - BE CAREFUL WITH TRANSLATORS AND CULTURAL MEDIATORS
If you are in a refugee camp, especially in Muslim countries, pay attention to the people who will act as translators (including those from Western organizations). Do not talk about your conversion unless necessary. If you are in reception centers in Europe, be careful with cultural mediators and translators. If you need to apply for political asylum because of your conversion, seek out a Christian translator to obtain help and verify that the translation exactly corresponds to what you have stated and that it does not contain false information or information that has been modified in a way that could harm you. - USE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
If possible, when asking for help, use a language other than your own. - INTERNET AND SATELLITE TELEVISION
Learn to use proxies and VPNs to browse more anonymously and securely. Alternatively, use the private browsing mode offered by browsers such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and others. Remember to regularly delete your browsing history and to remember the addresses of the websites that interest you without saving them.
Be careful not to watch Christian television channels via satellite television if you want to prevent other people from finding out about your religious activities. When using social media, create secondary profiles that do not allow you to be identified and do not associate these profiles with your personal phone number.
This guide is only a first version that we would like to complete, translate into various languages, and distribute in several tens of thousands of copies. If you would like to support this initiative for the protection of Christians, you can make a donation through the indicated link.
You can also write a message and pray for them by joining the “Friends in Prayer” prayer network, which supports the association.
If you have other suggestions or advice, you can send them to this address:
info@amicidilazzaro.it
