I can't trust the Vatican as a credible objective source on persecution. After all, historically, they have been "masters of the craft". Auto-de-fes anyone?

Christians make up the majority of religious affiliation in the U.S. and they are actively pursuing their agendas when they are not persecuting others for their ideas or beliefs.

"Christian persecution" is Dominionist and Reconstructivist twaddle. However, in the U.S. today, Muslims are actively being persecuted by the police and some Christians.

Religious persecution, historically, almost defines the history of religion throughout the world. It seems you can't have one without the other.