Jesuits speak up for refugees: 'our basic human duty is to save lives'

Migrants arriving on Lampedusa Island - Wiki image

On Friday, 25 October, the Jesuit Provincials of Europe the Middle East and Africa-Madagascar, meeting in Rome, issued the following statement on Migration and Asylum today entitled: 'We cannot set borders to our concern'.

They write:

We have all seen, in the last number of weeks, the terrible suffering caused to migrants and their families, dramatized in the recent Lampedusa tragedy. In the last 20 years many thousands have died trying to reach Europe. Pope Francis visited Lampedusa and expressed his sympathy outrage and sorrow at the desperate suffering of the migrants.

We, the Jesuit Provincials and Major superiors of Europe and the Middle East and of Africa-Madagascar, represent over 6,000 Jesuits across our two continents. We join the Pope in his care and concern for the migrants taking enormous risks to find a better life and fleeing from life-threatening situations in their homelands. We make this statement because we believe this is a time of urgency for our societies in the face of this grave moral issue.

Save lives - a basic moral imperative

The reasons for migratory and refugee flows are complex. Among the most significant are: wars, persecution, economic instability, environmental catastrophe and failed states that cannot provide for their populations. Whatever the reasons, the Lampedusa tragedy shows us that we are all called back to our basic human duty to save lives. We cannot escape that moral imperative.

Stop arms supplies to Africa

Europe must accept its share of responsibility for global migratory flows. Many European states or their corporations supply arms to Africa, often covertly. These arms supplies fuel conflicts, which, in turn, fuel migratory flows. Our world is so interconnected that we cannot place the border of our concern at the Mediterranean.

The Dublin Regulation

Many European countries are hospitable to asylum seekers. But the 'Dublin Regulation', which states that the countries where they first land have responsibility for assessing their asylum applications, does not facilitate an equal sharing of asylum flows. All of the countries of Europe should support each other in solidarity on this issue and should take joint responsibility for asylum and migrant issues.

Stop Detention of Asylum seekers; improve conditions for migrants in detention

- We oppose the detention of asylum seekers. Alternatives to detention are available; some governments have used them and they have worked well. - Children, whether migrants or asylum seekers, should be afforded much better protection. In addition, their right to quality education should be ensured.

- Detention conditions of migrants are often sub-human. While we realise that national governments and their social protection systems are stretched, basic human conditions and care of spiritual needs are morally mandatory.

Do not engage in extreme political discourse

We are concerned about the way in which politicians across a broad spectrum are allowing themselves to be influenced by politicians of the far right. As the search for votes and election success becomes more intense, political discourse is in danger of being held hostage to extremist forms of populism. We call on politicians to ensure that such extremists do not dictate the tone of political debate. The Europe of the 20th century showed the tragedy of what happens when extremist groups are allowed set the agenda and take control. We urge all those in the home countries of the migrants to work for peace and justice in their own countries that all their citizens may find a safe and secure home for their families.

Support those who are helping to make things better

We commend the courageous efforts of so many Episcopal Conferences, church groups and NGOs in Europe who have made the practical service of refugees and migrants, and advocacy on their behalf, a high priority. As Jesuits, we especially thank the Jesuit Refugee Service, the SJM (Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes) in Spain and other Jesuit organizations for all the work they do with such commitment and professionalism. As the Society of Jesus in Europe and the Middle East and in Africa-Madagascar we renew our dedication to the service of marginalized and poorest of the poor in our countries and commend migrants to the prayers of believers, and the care and concern of all people of good will.

Note: The Jesuit Provincials of Europe and the Middle East approved this statement at their annual meeting in Rome, October 17th-23rd 2013. The Jesuit Provincials of Africa and Madagascar approved it electronically.