Catholic Information Service for Africa

AFRICA: European Churches Want More Action on Crisis of Migrants
Written By:CISA , Posted: Tue, Sep 16, 2008

VIENNA, September 16, 2008 (CISA) -The Catholic Church in Europe has pledged to treat African immigrants as brothers and sisters - regardless of their legal status - in accordance with the demands of the Gospel.

Senior Church officials attending a conference in the Austrian capital also said African and European governments should work harder to end the widespread poverty in Africa which is forcing increasing numbers of people to attempt dangerous journeys to Europe in search a better life.

The meeting of national directors responsible for pastoral care of migrants in 21 European countries met in Vienna from September 12-14. It was also attended by representatives from the Holy See and a number of international Catholic organizations.

The theme of the meeting was “African migrants in Europe and in the Church: pastoral responsibilities.” There were two keynote addresses, one by Prof. Dr. Jan Sterk of Mechelen/Malines (‘The African continent and its significant aspects in history, culture, religion and society’), and the other by Mgr Franz Scharl, Auxiliary Bishop of Vienna (‘A theological-pastoral reflection based on an experience’).

Three subsequent testimonies formed the basis for group work. Fr Oliver Eitel, Caritas Director in the Diocese of Sigüenza-Guadalajara (Spain), presented experiences form the point of view of migrants, political refugees, and asylum seekers. Mgr Dr Petrus Bsteh, Rector of the Vienna Office for World Religions, spoke on the situation from the students’ point of view; and Fr Claude Musimar, representative of the Belgian organization Pro Migrantibus, addressed the situation from a pastoral point of view.

The results of the group work were summarised in a number of recommendations which were to be presented by the participants to the bishops’ conferences and the countries’ individual churches.

The participants noted that the presence of African migrants in Europe is a diverse and complex phenomenon, which must be confronted in a variety of spheres - political, cultural, social and pastoral - and with the cooperation of the various jurisdictions.

It was unanimously agreed that the situation in many African nations, with poverty, underdevelopment and the desperation of many people, is dramatic, often forcing people to undertake risky journeys to Europe.

But leaving aside how African migrants may have arrived in Europe, they must always be treated as human beings, as brothers and sisters, just as Jesus has commanded us, the conference agreed.

From the nations of Europe is demanded greater justice and cooperation in the field of the development of the poorest nations. It was decided that in 2010 a congress on the theme of migration will be organized in Spain.

AFRICA: European Churches Want More Action on Crisis of Migrants

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