Texas Displays True Christian Persecution, by Bigoted State Attorney General

Christians Face Fire from Extremists, Not Drag Queens

Over the weekend, my social media feed, like many others', was lit up with right-wing outrage over the Olympics opening ceremony, which allegedly "mocked Christianity" with a drag performance. Meanwhile, in South Texas, I witnessed the real persecution of Christians by those purporting to be followers of Christ themselves.

I met with Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, a heroic and compassionate woman who runs a shelter for migrants and asylum-seekers. Sister Norma has been targeted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is attempting to investigate her organization on baseless claims of aiding illegal immigration. Paxton, despite his Christian Baptist faith, is putting politics first, appealing to Trump's anti-immigrant base, contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"The Christian faith is secondary to their political allegiance to Donald Trump and his anti-immigrant message, which runs contrary to the church and the teaching of Jesus Christ."

Sister Norma is not alone in her plight. Other Christian organizations, like the Catholic Annunciation House in El Paso and a nonprofit in Brownsville led by an Episcopal minister, face similar investigations by the state. These Christian ministries are under fire from a conservative Texas government, with even Governor Greg Abbott, a Roman Catholic, turning a blind eye.

The true persecution of Christians in America is not coming from other faiths, but from so-called "Christians" promoting xenophobia and extreme nationalism. It is a warning sign of things to come, and it is time for the American church to wake up and stand strong against Christian nationalism, which has no place in the name of Jesus Christ.

McCorkle is an associate professor of education at College of Charleston in South Carolina.