蜜桃交友

By Pope

Tensions on the border between Greece and Turkey are growing as thousands of mainly Syrian refugees attempt to cross into Europe.

On 9 March, the Catholic and Lutheran Bishops of Scandinavia issued a joint statement urging Europe鈥檚 leaders to act responsibly towards refugees fleeing from violence and conflict.

Europe鈥檚 legal and moral obligation

Seeking asylum is a human right, say the Bishops. They insist that European member States have both a legal and moral obligation to assist people escaping oppression and persecution.  

The Bishops represent the Catholic and Lutheran Churches in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Lutheran World Federation website describes their joint statement as 鈥渦nprecedented鈥�. 鈥淲e will never succeed in keeping our own countries safe and secure鈥�, reads the message, 鈥渋f we fail to help solve the situations of conflict and oppression, climate crisis and poverty that force people to flee鈥�.

Taking joint responsibility

While acknowledging that 鈥渂orders cannot simply be opened鈥� and that unchecked immigration is not a solution, the Bishops insist that 鈥渨e are jointly responsible for ensuring that life can be lived in those countries currently beset by war and poverty鈥�.

The statement also decries a 鈥渂reakdown of belief in the future, a loss of universal values and human dignity, and short-sighted politics on all sides鈥�.

Sharing burdens

During this season of Lent, they write, 鈥渙ur physical and mental boundaries are being tested by the spread of the new coronavirus and the developing refugee situation on the external borders of Europe鈥�. According to the Bishops, common to both challenges is the need for personal and shared responsibility 鈥渋rrespective of political positions鈥�.

Burdens should be shared and shouldered jointly, the Bishops conclude. Because, 鈥渋f we fail, we lose our humanity鈥�.