Is Lebanon Next Victim in Islamic State Advance

Diversity that protects Lebanese Christians is on verge of collapse, official says.

As the world watches the Islamic State group's brutal persecution of Christians in Syria and Iraq, the danger to Lebanese Christians is frequently overlooked.

Now, a demographic influx of Muslim refugees from neighboring countries is threatening the political balance that ensures the existence of this ancient Christian community.

Father Paul Karam, a Maronite priest who serves as president of Caritas Lebanon, visited New York this week to speak with United States officials about the humanitarian crisis in his country. The message is dire: the delicate balance of religious diversity that protects Lebanese Christians is on the verge of collapse.

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