Immigration: the message of the bishopsGiving a “chance” to young immigrants to enable them to “express their cultural, religious and spiritual riches”: “Let’s open our arms, our doors and our eyes to enable them to share their treasures”. That’s the gist of the message written by Bishop Claude Schockert of Belfort-Montebéliard, delegate for the pastoral care of immigrants within the French Bishops’ Conference, to mark World Migrant and Refugee Day on Sunday 13 January. The theme of this year’s Day is: “Young migrants: resource and provocation”. The French message opens with a tribute to the memory of the two adolescents from Guinea found dead in the hold of an airliner that touched down in Brussels in August 1999. “These tragedies – comments the bishop – speak volumes about the climate of fear suffered by youth today and the numerous attempts they make to flee towards what is accessible”. The French Bishops’ Conference has always maintained a very critical attitude towards the immigration policies adopted by the Sarkozy government. Last October, Bishop Schockert signed, together with Bishop Olivier de Berranger, a Declaration that prompted the Minister of Immigration Brice Hortefeux to reply with a letter to better explain the government’s immigration policy. Solidarity: a “Festival of charity” in ParisFrom 28th January to 5th February, the diocese of Paris – led by cardinal André Vingt-Trois – will promote the Festival of Charity. The whole of the planned events is reviewed in a 25-page file, which will be handed out in the parishes. They include a photographic exhibition, a “Forum on commitment” and a round table with young people aged 16 to 25 about serving the poorer. In presenting the initiative, father Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, vicar general for solidarity, said that approximately 75% of the parishes of Paris will promote one event as part of the Festival and that the initiative as a whole has a threefold goal: “making what exists visible” as the commitment of the Church to the poorer; “measuring what remains to be done” regarding the emergency of the new poverties; and “calling new people to respond to these new needs”. In the file, which is in the press for the presentation of the Festival, the diocese also included some indicators of poverty in Paris. In the city, 12% of the families live below the poverty threshold (817 euros). Many poor people are young: 16% of under-20 boys and girls live in uncertain economic conditions.Pro-life: the associations demonstrateThe fourth “March for Life” will be held in Paris on Sunday 20 January with a rally in the Place de la République at 2.30 pm. Organized by the network of pro-life associations “30 ans ca suffit – En marche pour la vie” (30 years are enough – Marching for life”), the event will be marked for the first time this year by the participation of European delegations, such as that of the Italian Pro-Life Movement and the pro-life associations of Germany, Croatia and Belgium. The French network was set up in 2004 and now represents a dozen or so associations. The organizers are calling for the abolition of the “Veil” law because – explains a press release – they consider it responsible for a large part of the 200,000 annual abortions registered in our country”. In the previous rallies in 2005 and 2006 – say the promoters on their website – the event brought together some 10,000 people. Iraq: Pax Christi’s support for Iraqi ChristiansPax Christi in France has launched a major campaign of awareness-raising, information and support on behalf of the beleaguered Christians of Iraq. The campaign will officially open on 12 January in the church of Saint-Eustache in Paris with a reading of an appeal which will then be read out in all the Christian communities of the country on the following Sunday. In February a delegation of French Christian leaders will go to Iraq, accompanied by Bishop Marc Stenger of Troyes, who heads Pax Christi in France. “This campaign is aimed at making heard the cry for help of these men and women who are suffering and giving testimony of their situation and their problems not only to Christians in France, but also to the French government”.
