‘There is a war on Christianity’ says Texas Senator Rand Paul, calling for an end to aid to Egypt, Pakistan and Libya

American taxpayers are paying for a “war on Christianity” at home and abroad, Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul said during a speech at a conservative conference Thursday.

“There is a war on Christianity,” Paul told an audience of mostly evangelical Christians and Jews during a luncheon at the annual Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington.

Rand Paul at CPAC 2013
Image/Video Screen Shot

“Not just from liberal elites here at home, but worldwide. And your government, or more correctly, you, the taxpayer, are funding it. You are being taxed to send money to countries that are not only intolerant of Christians, but openly hostile. Christians are imprisoned and threatened with death for their beliefs.”

Paul pointed to continued U.S. financial aid to foreign countries where Christian persecution occurs.

Paul has long called for an end to foreign aid to particularly Muslim-majority countries Egypt, Pakistan and Libya, but he does not always frame his opposition in terms of faith. Last year, he introduced a bill to the Senate that would cut off aid to those countries.

“In Egypt, in Pakistan, they burn our flag—I say not one penny more to countries that burn the American flag,” Paul said. “While they burn the American flag and the mobs chant ‘Death to America,’ more of your money is sent to these haters of Christianity.”

“It makes no sense. Should we be sending F-16s and tanks to Egypt when (President Mohammed) Morsi says Jews are descendants of apes and pigs?”
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Paul then said that, even apart from the war on Christianity, the investments aren’t wise.

“Even if all the atrocities against Christians were not being committed, we wouldn’t have the money to be sending to these countries,” he said. “We’re borrowing money from China to send it to Pakistan.”

He added: “It is clear that American taxpayer dollars are being used to enable a war on Christianity in the Middle East, and I believe that must end.”

The conference where Paul spoke Thursday is organized by former Christian Coalition Executive Director Ralph Reed.