A Congressional hearing on the persecution of Christians exposes the horrors many people are facing worldwide for their religious beliefs.

According to a new Pew Research study, hostility against religious groups has reached a high in recent years. The study cites violence across the world, including attacks on Christian-owned businesses, homes and churches.

Republican Congressman Chris Smith (NJ) said during today’s hearing that he has seen the problem firsthand.


Smith said church leaders in China were arrested and detained before the 2006 Olympics in Beijing for simply for meeting with him and another congressman.

Shannon Bream reported that lawmakers are pushing for the U.S. government to leverage trade and foreign aid to force other countries to stop persecuting Christians.