The times do not favour it. It's not that there are few migrants and refugees to bother about. The difficulty is that they are many and growing.

Welcoming, not blaming

People who are doing it hard, as so many Australians and others are, in a time of gross inequality and economic pressure, readily see migrants and refugees as a cause of their own discontents and turn on them.

In the United States, Great Britain and in Europe we have seen how dangerous this behaviour is, how it can be inflamed by politicians and by social media, and how it threatens peace and civil order.

The same effects of economic pressures, ecological changes and armed conflicts are also driving more people to leave their homes and to seek safety and a decent life.

Many are displaced by war, discrimination and famine in their own nations. Many seek protection in other nations. People displaced in Myanmar and Gaza and Sudan attract the most attention, but are only a few of those fleeing from violence and poverty.

In prosperous times many people in developed nations are sympathetic to refugees and migrants and welcome them into their own societies.

In hard times, however, xenophobia spreads and is exploited by politicians who vilify refugees and demand that the nation be closed to immigrants.

This is notable in the United States and in many European nations, where small radical groups protest violently against immigrants and refugees, as well as against local minority groups. Governments often respond by cutting immigration and excluding refugees.

Australia, which had already adopted punitive measures to prevent people seeking protection, has come under similar pressure.

That is not surprising. People who struggle to find accommodation or to keep work can easily be led to see as threats people coming to Australia. They believe that governments should solve local problems first and only then admit others to Australia.

Although such opinions may not make economic sense and are self-centred, they are understandable.

The conduct of politicians and ideologues who spread false rumours against people from other cultures, stir up violent demonstrations, and depict refugees and immigrants from unfavoured nations as dangerous people who should be locked up, is less forgivable.

Our human family

In these times it is important to plead the cause of refugees.

It is even more important to open our minds and hearts to all the persons who are doing it hard, and not to barrack for some of them while lumping together others as things and not as persons.

As we reflect on the hardships which many people who live in Australia must bear, feel compassion for them, and argue for change in our unequal economy, our hearts should also open to the stories of people who have been forced from their homes and who seek protection and a new life in Australia.

Australians who do it hard and refugees are not competitors but our brothers and sisters.

In hard times it is easy to forget people.

Migrant and Refugee Sunday is a time for remembering. The need to remember and the decencies of remembering are enshrined in war memorials and in phrases such as the one attached to the Holocaust, ‘Lest we forget'.

Remembering is also central to the Abrahamic religions, whether focused on the liberation of the Jews from Egypt, the death and rising of Jesus and the martyrs, or the revelation made to Muhammad.

The need to remember has enriched languages and created alphabets.

In recent weeks the local services in Gaza have emphasised the importance of remembering by taking precious time to gather and publish the names of the 34,000 people known to have been killed in Gaza.

They may no longer be seen as numbers, ciphers in military and strategic calculus, but as persons.

Each has a name, each is unique and precious. They share that dignity with each person who lives with hunger, illness and fear in Gaza, in Mynamar, in Sudan and central America, and with each person who has escaped beyond national borders to seek life for themselves and for their families in other nations.

The call to remember extends also to our personal and national history. For all Australians that includes the immigration to Australia, forced or voluntary, of our ancestors and and the hope of a better life that they nurtured.

For many of us this history included flight from famine in Ireland, from poverty, from religious and ethnic discrimination, or from the effects of war. Our history also extends to all the people whom at different times we have excluded - Asians, Africans, Jews and even our First Peoples.

We all own a history that evokes gratitude, pride and shame. Migrant and Refugee Sunday invites us to think and act generously.

• First published in Eureka Street
• Andrew Hamilton is consulting editor of Eureka Street, and writer at Jesuit Social Services.

Although many protesters were young men, families and older people also took part in the rally. They included "neo-pagans" and Catholic groups.

Others included extremists from Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia and far-right leaders like Tommy Robinson from Britain and Roberto Fiore from Italy.

American white supremacist Richard Spencer was scheduled to speak at a conference in Warsaw on Friday, but was denied entry when the Polish government said he wasn't welcome in the country.

Banners shouting out the protesters' views included statements like: "White Europe of brotherly nations."

Many protesters carried the Polish flag. Others carried banners depicting a falanga, a far-right 1930's symbol.

Speakers talked of standing against liberals and defending Christian values, using "We Want God" as their slogan.

The slogan comes from an old Polish hymn President Donald Trump quoted in July when he visited Warsaw.

At that time Trump praised Poland for what he described as the country's defence of Western civilisation.

The organisers of the rally's xenophobic and far-right participants included the National-Radical Camp, the National Movement and the All Polish Youth.

These organisations' roots were evident in anti-Semitic groups active before World War II.

The demonstration overshadowed official state observances and other patriotic events. It was the largest Polish Independence Day event in recent years.

Many of Poland's 37.95 million (2016) citizens oppose the fascist movement.

Rafal Pankowski, head of the anti-extremist association Never Again, says despite the reference to God, the march shouldn't be viewed as inspired by religious beliefs.

"We know that Donald Trump is not the most religious man, and I think that most of the organisers are not very religious either.

"But they use Christianity as a kind of identity marker, which is mostly about being anti-Islam now."

State broadcaster TVP, which reflects the conservative government's line, called the demonstration a "great march of patriots."

It described the event as one that drew mostly "regular" Poles expressing their love of Poland, not extremists.

"It was a beautiful sight," Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said. "We are proud that so many Poles have decided to take part in a celebration connected to the Independence Day holiday."

Source

• New Delhi Times
• News 4 Tucson
• The Guardian
• Worldometers
• Image: Stuff

Speaking to an International Federation of Universities conference, Francis reflected on the conference theme "Refugees and Migrants in a Globalized World: Responsibilities and Responses of Universities".

He said there is an urgent need "to do further studies into the root causes of forced migration with the aim of identifying viable solutions."

This will involve reflecting on the negative, sometimes discriminatory, xenophobic reactions migrants face in countries of "ancient Christian traditions" and finding ways to raise awareness about this.

"It is appropriate to initiate further studies on the remote causes of forced migrations, with the aim of identifying practicable solutions also in the long term, as it is necessary first to ensure that people have the right not to be forced to emigrate," he said.

"It is equally important to reflect on the negative, sometimes discriminatory and xenophobic first reactions to migrants in countries of ancient Christian tradition, to propose paths for raising awareness."

Pointing out migrants and refugees have much to offer, Francis told the conference he hoped Catholic universities would develop programmes to help them.

These programmes would "promote refugee education at various levels, by providing distance courses for those living in camps and reception centres, plus scholarships that allow for their relocation."

Francis invited Catholic universities to educate their students to study migration from a justice and global co-responsibility perspective.

He pointed out the Migration and Refugee Section of the Dicastery for Integrated Human Development has suggested a "20 Action Points" process.

Francis said following this process will lead the international community to adopt two Global Pacts, one on migrants and one on refugees in the second half of 2018.

In his view, universities can play their part through "incentives for student volunteering in programmes of assistance to refugees, asylum seekers and newly arrived migrants".

Source

• Vatican Radio
• Herald Malaysia Online
• Image: Cartoon Movement

The country's primate, Archbishop Wojciech Polak, says if he hears of a protest against refugees "where my priests participate, I will have a swift response: each priest who joins in will be suspended.

"There's no other path to take. I am responsible for my diocese. In situations where (priests) explicitly support one side in a conflict, I need to act immediately.

"We must be open, compassionate and ready to help those most needy - the weak and persecuted, migrants and refugees," Polak says.

"We must respect the social order rather than destroy it thoughtlessly."

His comments have drawn support from other religious leaders and scorn from conservative leaders, including the ruling Law and Justice Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Kaczynski, who is known for his anti-migrant attitude, has been criticised in the past for inciting xenophobia. This occurred during his election campaign when he said migrants should be kept out of Poland in case they carried "parasites and protozoa".

At the other end of the scale, Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek says Poland's leaders are consciously "violating the Constitution" as they overhaul the judiciary system. He called it "villainy."

Regardless of what church and state leaders may say, priests say it seems 90 per cent of the Polish population place more importance in the Parish.

"People in small towns will keep listening to their local parish priests, the majority of whom praise the government," said Andrzej Kaminski, 77, a retired engineer.

"The church hierarchy is high and far away, and the local priest is right there, with them."

Whether Kaminski's analysis is correct or not, most Poles oppose allowing refugees to settle in their country, according to Yahoo News.

Although Yahoo does not cite its source information, it claims several recent surveys show that the "majority" Poland and its rightwing premier have refused to be "blackmailed" by the European Union into accepting thousands of asylum seekers under a quota system.

• Catholic Herald
• Yahoo
• Image: Yahoo

Church leaders in Poland say the event was purely religious and "the key objective of this manifestation is to pray for peace."

During a mass celebrated on the border, the archbishop of Krakow, Marek Jedraszewski, called on believers to pray "for the other European nations to make them understand it is necessary to return to Christian roots so that Europe would remain Europe."

Not everyone saw the event as purely religious, however.

Many viewed it as a spiritual weapon against the "Islamisation" of Europe. Others have concerns the prayer chain could be seen as endorsing the state's refusal to let in Muslim migrants.

A leading Polish expert on xenophobia and extremism, Rafal Pankowski, saw the prayer chain event as a problematic expression of Islamophobia.

He says it comes at a time of rising anti-Muslim sentiment in Poland, even though the country's Muslim population is tiny.

"The whole concept of doing it on the borders reinforces the ethno-religious, xenophobic model of national identity," said Pankowski, who heads the Never Again association in Warsaw.

The date selected for the human prayer chain - 7 October - was the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. This year's anniversary marks the 1571 Christian victory over the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Lepanto.

Source

• France 24
• ABC
• Daily News
• Radio Poland
• BBC
• Image: Church POP

Each year the report collates hate crime statistics from law enforcement agencies across the country.

Its aim is to help provide an accurate accounting of the problem, by state and nationally.

President-elect Donald Trump said he was "very surprised" to hear about them during a US "60 Minutes" interview on Sunday.

"I hate to hear that. I mean, I hate to hear that," he said.

Trump has been accused of fostering racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia.

This view is fueled by his promises to restrict immigration, deport Mexicans, and register Muslims.

He has appointed Steve Bannon, boss of far-right Breitbart website as his chief White House strategist.

Breitbart openly attacks women, Muslims and African-Americans and Jews.

The FBI says the increase in hate crimes began before the 2016 election campaign started.

The report shows crimes against Muslims rose by 70% from 178 in 2014 to 301 in 2015.

The report also records 664 incidents (a 9% increase) against Jews and Jewish institutions "motivated by anti-Semitism" .

Jews and Muslims are banding together to support each other.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which fights against antisemitism and bigotry is strongly condemning all anti Muslim incidents.

A US not-for-profit hate-attack monitoring group, the Southern Poverty Law Center has also been keeping records.

Group spokesperson Mark Potok says it has documented anecdotes of 437 cases of intimidation and abuse towards minorities since last week's general election.

Potok said many anecdotes were linked to President-elect Donald Trump's supporters.

Rizwan Jaka, a Muslim representative spoke on the same 60 Minutes programme as Trump.

She said the Muslim community in has faced a "roller coaster of challenges in the past 15 years, since the horrific attacks of 9/11[...]

"In 2015, over 75 mosques were attacked ...Muslim women that are wearing the scarf are being taunted or harassed or threatened ...".

"And so we're all concerned, and obviously there's bigotry across the spectrum, across all demographics, and we're concerned about it all".

Source

• CBS News
• National Catholic Reporter
• BBC
• The Jerusalem Post
• International Business Times
• Image: hatecrimescotland.org

The president of the German bishops' conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, said Germany cannot "take in all the world's needy".

The question of how to respond to the migrant crisis, he said, should not solely be a matter of "charity, but also reason".

Germany has been struggling to cope with 1.1 million asylum seekers, who arrived in 2015.

Cardinal Marx also expressed concern at the rise in xenophobia in Germany amid the worst refugee crisis that Europe has known since the Second World War.

Continue reading

But while Khan is a comic book character, she should not become a caricature.

"Her brother is extremely conservative," the editor, Sana Amanat, told The New York Times. "Her mom is paranoid that she's going to touch a boy and get pregnant. Her father wants her to concentrate on her studies and become a doctor."

American literature is replete with tales of assimilation, from "My Antonia" to "The Joy Luck Club." The overprotective mother and the demanding father are staples of the genre. But with Khan, there is an additional twist: The "conservative" brother.

When talking about Muslims, "conservative" is often code for someone who embraces a fundamentalist understanding of Islam, which is viewed as just one step short of becoming a terrorist. Continue reading.

Source: Religion News Service

Image: Marvel

The strongly worded document, entitled Welcoming Christ in Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Persons, was released jointly by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.

It says Catholic laity have an obligation to root out traces of xenophobia in their hearts and recognise refugees as their brothers and sisters — children of God whose dignity must be protected.

Since the mid-1980s, the document says, the debate surrounding refugees and other asylum seekers has become "a forum for political and administrative election purposes, which fed hostile and aggressive attitudes among the electorate".

At a news conference, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, said many governments have adopted policies that subject refugees to "confined detention, interment in refugee camps, and having their freedom to travel and their right to work restricted".

In effect, he said, countries are focused more on deterring newcomers from reaching their shores than they are on offering protection and a welcome to suffering people fleeing situations that threatened their lives and dignity.

From a Catholic point of view, he said, "every policy, initiative or intervention in this area must be inspired by the principle of the centrality and dignity of the human person".

Data compiled by Cardinal Veglio's office indicates that in 2012 there were some 16 million officially recognised refugees in the world and 28.8 million internally displaced persons.

In addition, an estimated 21 million people have been trafficked, including 4.5 million for sexual exploitation and 14.2 million for what amounts to slave labour.

The document treats the whole field of migration as a field for Catholic missionary activity.

In addition to supporting Catholic groups, particularly women's religious orders that are rescuing victims and helping them recover, the document says lay Catholics need to look at how their investing or buying habits may actually promote trafficking for low-cost labour, including in the fields of manufacturing, textiles and agriculture.

Sources:

Vatican Information Service

Catholic News Service

Image: UCANews