Statement from Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson after the unanimous passage of Congressional Resolution on Genocide against Christians in the Middle East

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today's unanimous bipartisan passing of H. Con. Res. 75, which declares ISIS' attacks against Christians and other ethnic minorities occurring in the Middle East a genocide is historic and welcome. This bipartisan vote joins Congress' voice with those of the majority of American people and of the world. It is a testament to the truth. The question remains: Will the State Department join the rest of the world in calling this what it is – genocide? Or will it undermine the global and national consensus on this issue, signaling to terrorists that we don't take their crimes as seriously as the rest of the world does?

The facts are well documented in our nearly 300 page report on this matter, and we must remember that for the State Department to issue declaration of genocide, the standard required is merely probable cause, which any prosecutor could find on any of ISIS's Facebook pages.

Note to Media:

By nearly 20 points, the majority of Americans (55% to 36%) believe that what is happening to Christians - and other religious minorities - in the Middle East is genocide, according to a December 2015 Marist poll. For more details please visit: http://www.kofc.org/en/news/releases/poll_marist-poll-isis.html.

SOURCE Knights of Columbus