Brian R Corbin's Reflections on Religion and Life

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July 24, 2008 • 1:48 am 0

Caritas Group Decries European Immigration Rule

Recalls Opposite Situation in Colonial Times

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, JULY 23, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- The Caritas network of Latin America and the Caribbean is reminding Europe that immigrants are not delinquents.

A joint statement from representatives of the network responded to the “Return Directive,” approved by the European Union last month. The measure, which could go into effect in 2010, has been criticized by human rights groups and Latin American government officials as overly harsh. It allows for up to 18 months’ detention prior to deportation and banishment from the E.U. for several years.

The Caritas statement appeals to the European Parliament and its representatives in European Union governments, to “desist from the tendency to criminalize migrations and the expulsion of people in irregular situations.”

The statement is signed by Bishop Fernando Bargalló, president of the Latin American and Caribbean Caritas, and by José Antonio Sandoval, executive secretary of the secretariat.

The E.U. directive, the statement adds, “is contrary to a global, safe, humane migratory system consistent with the fundamental rights of the human person.”

The communiqué’s signatories reject “categorically that migrants, being in an irregular situation, should be regarded as criminals, promoting their expulsion, measures that deprive them of liberty and ban them from entry.”

The signatories expressed their special opposition to the “application of these measures to minors, as we believe this violates their fundamental rights.”

They expressed their disagreement “with the shielding of economies and systems of social protection that for years have benefited from the effort of a working population seeking to improve the living conditions of their families.”

Brothers and sisters

The Caritas statement recalled that religious traditions teach the faithful to welcome one another with love.

“Every day we witness the suffering of immigrant families who have lost loved ones, who died at sea, or of immigrants themselves who have experienced exploitation in their work or abuse at the hands of human traffickers and other unscrupulous individuals,” it continued. “We also witness the pain of those who remain; we see children and elderly people taking on responsibilities that do not correspond to them to take care of homes, and we also see the daily sacrifice, full of love and tenderness, to take care of families from a distance.”

It is alarming, say the signatories, that educated Europe, a traditional land of asylum and a rich land, has approved this directive to expel immigrants in irregular situations.

It is painful “to witness that representatives of countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, England, etc., whose migrations in colonial times to America, Asia and Africa, represented for them not only an immense opening of horizons but also the concrete possibility of economic growth, have forgotten that recent history and now vote and approve, in an ill-timed manner, this inhuman directive,” they added.

The Caritas statement appeals instead for measures from Europe to help fledgling economies in Latin America.

“As organizations and networks of a religious nature, of solidarity and charity, we call attention to the ethical dimension of the European Directive,” the statement concluded, “and to the need to put into practice policies that safeguard the human dignity of all people.”

Filed under: Caritas, Migration, Social Justice

July 7, 2008 • 11:39 pm 0

Bishops Decry Mistreatment of Guatemalan Migrants

Criticize EU, US and Mexico

GUATEMALA CITY, JULY 7, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- The bishops of Guatemala are pleading for better treatment for migrants from their country, just as the European Union is hoping to finalize its new policy on immigrants.

In a statement Thursday, the prelates expressed their “regret and concern” over the worldwide situation of immigrants, noting that migrants are motivated by “extreme reasons — poverty, unemployment, insecurity, natural disasters, war, and others.”

Meanwhile European Union officials, at informal talks in France today, expressed optimism that the “European Pact on Immigration and Asylum” could be finalized by October. Many are criticizing the measure as xenophobic, though defenders say it is just an attempt to control and regulate human movement in the union.

The bishops took particular issue with some of the clauses in the pact, saying, “This initiative is excessively restrictive and does not give sufficient guarantees for respect of migrants’ human rights.” In that regard, they lamented that the policy gives authorities the right to detain immigrants for 18 months for processing, without any criminal charge.

The Guatemalan bishops’ statement, signed by Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini Imeri, president of the Pastoral Committee for Human Mobility, expressed their “solidarity, and moral and spiritual support to all those migrants suffering persecution, raids and deportations at present in the United States of America.” They also address “those who with despair are about to suffer xenophobic laws and policies violating fundamental human rights in the European Union — a hostile and incoherent policy such as that implemented in the United States.”

The statement notes that this year, an average of 6.5 flights a week have returned deported Guatemalans from the United States. Nevertheless, migrants in the United States have already sent $1.7 million back to their families in Guatemala during 2008.

As Church leaders, “we are worried by such events suffered by the immigrant community in the said nations, which have opted for repressive and discriminatory dispositions against thousands of illegal immigrants who contribute clandestinely to the economy of their countries of origin and of destination.”

The bishops said deportations from the United States and Mexico “in no way solve the migratory problem; they are counterproductive and inhuman actions.”

Appeal to government

The episcopal conference also called on the Guatemalan government for better measures to reinsert deported workers back into society.

“To date, the actions of the government do not guarantee a dignified stay in our country for the deported,” they lamented. “Given the economic, political and social situation, many are obliged to attempt a return to the north. Thus migration is transformed into a constant vicious circle that fosters the increase of debt in families.”

Given the migratory panorama and the situations faced by their fellow countrymen and migrants of the Central American region, the Guatemalan bishops call for “reflection by member nations of the European Union, by the United States of America and by Mexico, to act with solidarity and without prejudice to migrants.”

The bishops also exhort the migrants “to be strong in face of such blows and to remain united and in solidarity in their struggle against such adversities. They have our support and solidarity. They are present in our prayers.”

The Guatemalan bishops proposed united action from Central American groups so as to be able to “influence the European Union and call it as a whole to reflect on these attitudes against migrants.”

Filed under: Migration, Social Justice

June 27, 2008 • 1:17 pm 0

Pontiff: Church’s Charity Shows Face of God

Shares Honduran Bishops’ Concern Over Poverty

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).- With its commitment to combat poverty and violence, and with its work in education, the Church shows the merciful face of God, Benedict XVI says.

The Pope affirmed this today when he received in audience the Honduran bishops, in Rome for their five-yearly visit. He reminded them that “like the proclamation of the word and the celebration of the sacraments, the service of charity is an essential part of the mission of the Church.”

The Holy Father highlighted the bishops’ role in this service of charity, though he added: “I know well how the poverty, which affects so many of your fellow-countrymen, afflicts you.”

Some 70% of Honduras’ 7 million inhabitants are below the poverty line.

The Pontiff assured the bishops that he shares their concern at the “increase in violence, emigration, destruction of the environment, corruption, and lack of education, among other grave problems.”

“As ministers of the Good Shepherd, you have displayed, in word and deed, an intense endeavor to assist the needy,” the Pope affirmed. He encouraged them “to continue to show in your ministry the merciful face of God, fostering in all your diocesan communities and parishes an extensive and detailed service of charity, which will reach in a special way the sick, the elderly and the imprisoned.”

In his greeting to the Pope, Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa and president of the Honduras episcopal conference, expressed his concern over the “inhuman poverty” in his country, now aggravated by the rise in the cost of petrol and food.

This situation leads to the exodus of thousands of citizens — seeking better opportunities — which contributes to the break-up of families, he lamented.

At the same time, the country is suffering from violence and crime, though the Church has launched a nationwide campaign in favor of life.

Filed under: Caritas, Migration, Papal Teachings, Social Doctrine, Social Justice

June 27, 2008 • 1:14 pm 0

Bishops Urge Respect for Humanity of Migrants

http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-23033

ZE08062610 – 2008-06-26
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-23033?l=english

Not “Delinquents,” But “People Seeking a Better Way of Life”

TIJUANA, Mexico, JUNE 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The bishops directly affected by immigration in the Americas are asking that the human dignity of migrants be respected.

This was one of the appeals that came from a meeting of episcopal conferences held in Tijuana. The conference, which ended June 19, gathered representatives of bishops’ conferences from Mexico, the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.

Archbishop Christopher Pierre, apostolic nuncio in Mexico, recalled that during Benedict XVI’s April visit to the United States, the Pope stressed the importance of the issue of migration. The nuncio recalled how the Holy Father mentioned that the Church and society have experienced changes due to the presence of Hispanic immigrants.

The Church cannot be indifferent to such facts “and must integrate them in her vision to respond to the challenges,” noted Archbishop Pierre.

The papal representative appealed to the Catholic community to support migrants in various ways, acknowledging that the Church cannot have all the solutions.

During the meeting, Auxiliary Bishop Gustavo Rodríguez Vega of Monterrey, president of the Mexican episcopate’s Commission for Social Pastoral Care, noted, “There have always been migrants and there always will be, but we are referring to a very concrete problem of recent times in which the violation of the human rights of migrants and their families has worsened.”

He explained that these violations happen not only among Mexican migrants, but also among those from Central America and the Caribbean, “who seek to escape from their places of origin and find a better life by going to the United States.”

“On this path, they meet with all sorts of dangers, but also abuse of their human rights. This causes us great concern,” emphasized Bishop Rodriguez Vega.

At a press conference, Archbishop Rafael Romo Muñoz of Tijuana, an official of the Mexican episcopate’s Section for Human Mobility, acknowledged that one of the main problems on the border with the United States is the violation of migrants’ human rights.

But he called attention to another, parallel problem.

“Being on this border with the United States, much attention is paid to the treatment that Mexicans receive at the hands of North American authorities, but not so much attention is paid to Mexicans’ treatment of migrants from Central America, the Caribbean and South America, who suffer terribly,” he stressed.

“We would like our migrants to be regarded with greater humanitarian sensitivity,” the archbishop affirmed. “We have already said many times that these are people seeking a better way of life, who in no way are delinquents. What impels them is the need to be able to provide a better way of life for their families.”

Filed under: Migration, Social Justice

June 8, 2008 • 10:48 pm 0

Guatemala: Social Justice

GUATEMALA : STRENGTHEN SOLIDARITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY

VATICAN CITY, 31 MAY 2008 (VIS) – This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received the Letters of Credence of Acisclo Valladares Molina, the new ambassador of Guatemala to the Holy See.

In his remarks to the diplomat, the Holy Father recalled the fact that this year marks the 25th anniversary of John Paul II’s first pastoral visit to that land “of eternal spring”, and he praised the faithfulness to the Bishop of Rome with which the Guatemalans have always responded to the Holy See’s concern for their country.

“The Church”, said the Pope, “shares the concern of the Guatemalan authorities over factors that afflict a large part of the population, such as poverty and emigration. Her rich ecclesial experience, accumulated over the course of history, may be of help in finding the means to face these problems from a humanitarian perspective, and to strengthen solidarity which is indispensable in order to find effective and lasting solutions”.

“In this way”, he continued, “crucial technical and economic programmes must be supplemented by other factors that foment the dignity of the person, the stability of the family and an education that takes the most important human and Christian values into account”. Nor must “those people who have had to abandon their land, though not forgetting it in their hearts” be overlooked. “This is a duty of gratitude and justice towards those who are, in effect, also an important source of income for the country in which they were born”.

Another challenge facing Guatemala is that of “remedying the malnutrition of many children”, said Benedict XVI, observing how “eradicating hunger and, at the same time, ensuring healthy and sufficient nourishment, requires specific methods and actions that enable resources to be exploited while respecting the heritage of creation”, making use not only “of the results of science, research and technology”, but also taking into account “the cycles and rhythms of nature, as understood by people in rural areas” and protecting “the traditional uses of indigenous communities, laying aside selfish and exclusively economic concerns”.

This primary right to food, said the Pope, “is intrinsically linked to the protection and defence of human life, the firm and unbreakable rock upon which the entire edifice of human rights rests. We can never, then, show enough … concern for mothers, especially those suffering serious difficulties, so that they can bring their children into the world with dignity and thus avoid the unjustifiable recourse to abortion. In this sense, safeguarding human life, especially that of the unborn, … is an ever present task which, by its nature, is linked to facilitating the adoption of the children” with all the guarantees of the law.

In closing his remarks, the Holy Father mentioned “the blight of social violence” which is often exacerbated by “a lack of dialogue and of cohesion in families, by profound economic inequalities, by grave negligence and shortcomings in the field of healthcare, by drug consumption and trafficking, and by the plague of corruption”. In this context, he expressed his satisfaction at the progress Guatemala has made in combating these difficulties, progress “which must continue, promoting co-operation among everyone to put an end to such problems by cultivating moral values and combating illegality, impunity and corruption”.

CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/VALLADARES VIS 080602 (550)

Filed under: Migration, Social Doctrine, Social Justice

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