“Martyrs”
Stories from foxnews and cnn on the Holy Father’s beatification of six individuals both refer to the two Ugandan missionary matyrs with quotes around the word “martyrs.” Why the quotes around the word martyrs? Both stories contain this paragraph:
The pope praised the six on Sunday as role models for Catholics, saying their faith, humbleness and willingness to die for their religion was a source of strength.
When an un-churched American hears that someone is willing to die for their faith, they assume it means they are willing to kill for their faith. Villians are not victims. Has the word “martyr” been associated with murderers so long that it has lost its true meaning?