Blood libel

The blood libel is the superstitious belief that Jewish people needed the blood of Christian babies for varied reasons. The Papacy has formally declared the blood libel to be untrue, and it no longer persists in the West. Indeed, many children venerated as Christian martyrs have been decanonised. However, the blood libel has resurfaced in Islamic countries, and is even taught in Madrasahs in Saudi Arabia. Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Egypt have all had recent reports of the blood libel being promoted in books and/or state sponsored media.

It originated first in the writings of the Graeco-Egyptian sophist and grammarian Apion, who alleged that Jews sacrificed Greeks in the Temple of Jerusalem. Later, the murder of Saint William of Norwich was blamed upon the local Jewish community, though a Sheriff intervened at the indictment of a group of suspects. The murder was never solved.

Some Romans, prior to the rule of Constantine I and the general acceptance of Christianity, took exception to the ritual of the Eucharist, believing that they literally drank blood instead of transubstantiated wine. This was used in propaganda used to advocate the persecution of Christians.

A kind of blood libel is also alleged to take place in China. It was claimed that doctors who perform abortions ate human foetuses. It was investigated by Senator Jesse Helms, and was used by several pro-life campaigns.