The ever increasing numbers of immigrants in France influence pastoral practices. Immigation is an inescapable reality in all pastoral plans. In 2001 alone, French Caritas provided accommodation to 12,000 asylum-seekers. That’s one of the findings that emerged from the conference held in Paris on 28 September on the theme: “The Church and immigrants, a future in common?”. “Today, the presence of immigrants is a situation the Church cannot ignore: she must consider a plurality of new situations”, said Msgr. Jean-Luc Brunin, auxiliary bishop of Lille and chairman of the Episcopal Committee for migrations. “We wish to show that the Church’s commitment to immigrants cannot be reduced to the provision of a specialized service”, underlined José da Silva, national secretary for the pastoral care of migrants. “Caritas is one of the three organizations that receive most immigrants in France, alongside the Social Service of aid to immigrants and France Terre d’Asile”, pointed out Joël Thoraval, president of French Caritas. He also noted that “ever since its origins, Caritas has been particularly attentive to the living conditions offered to foreigners”. The figures are constantly growing: “Of every 100 persons given hospitality, the percentage of foreigners was equivalent to 18% in 1997-1998 and 22% in 2001. At the present time, over one person in every five in France is a foreigner”. Living conditions for immigrants continue to deteriorate: “overall, the average level of immigrants’ resources is some 20% less than that of the French; 44% of foreigners have difficulties in reading; 40% have no permanent home”. Even educational level is an aspect closely linked to the phenomenon of immigration. The conference ascertained that 10% of pupils in Catholic schools are now Moslems. In some dioceses such as Marseilles or Saint-Denis on the northern outskirts of Paris, schools have a majority sometimes as high as 90% of foreign pupils: a situation that poses various cultural and religious problems. “For Moslem families it’s normal to speak of God at school. There is no separation between religious instruction and school teaching”, pointed out Gilles du Rétail, communications expert of the Catholic educational secretariat. “Moreover, having their children educated in a Catholic school also represents for them a form of social promotion”. According to Father Lucien Marteau of the national catechumenal service, “35% of catechumens come from Africa and increasing numbers from Asia. It’s a way of achieving integration that poses cultural and legal problems, such as that of polygamy”. For this reason, Bishop Brunin emphasized the importance of intercultural dialogue and the reception of Catholic immigrants: “The dioceses must welcome their brothers who come from afar, and do all in their power to help them put down roots. There are no foreigners in the Church. Immigrants need to be called to the permanent diaconate, and to assume pastoral responsibilities”.
