As the Republic of Ireland promises a firmer stance against migrants, the Irish bishops have issued a statement calling the nation “to welcome migrants so as to support the defence of their inalienable rights”. Source: Crux.
Earlier this year, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris promised a “firmer system” on immigration after a series of protests against asylum-seekers happened across the country.
The Republic of Ireland has a population of around 5.2 million people and has around 13,000 registered asylum-seekers. There are also more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the country.
A series of anti-immigration protests last year saw some buildings and cars burned by protestors.
Mr Harris said Ireland needs to rethink its approach to immigration in an interview with Sky News earlier this year.
“Now we’re a country in which people wish to come to make a better life, but we do need a fair and firm system,” he said.
“It is true to say that there are some people who seek to exploit moments of crisis, but there’s also a need for government to do a better job in terms of listening to communities and engaging with communities,” he added.
In their letter issued over the weekend – called A Hundred Thousand Welcomes? – the Irish bishop said the island’s “tradition of hospitality … faces challenges due to rising immigration, which has exposed longstanding societal issues like housing, homelessness, and gaps in social services”.
“These challenges existed before immigration became a prominent issue, but some fearful and angry voices now call for closing borders,” the statement says.
“However, the Irish people, conscious of our own history of migration and Christian faith, must continue to welcome newcomers. Many immigrants bring valuable skills and talents, while others seek support for a better future,” the bishops continue.
Ireland’s Catholic bishops say they strongly encourage a “culture of encounter” that goes beyond mere tolerance of newcomers.
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Irish bishops call for more welcoming policy for immigrants (By Charles Collins, Crux)
