“Malaga Message”

“We bear witness to the fact that it is indeed possible to consider the presence of immigrants in Europe as an asset for the present and for the future”. Thus begins the “Message” of participants in the 8th European “Migration” Congress promoted by the CCEE in Malaga from April 27 to May 1st to the Churches and to European society. Approximately one hundred delegates including bishops, national directors for the pastoral care of the migrants, and pastoral workers, met for five days for an analysis of migration flows in Europe, to share the Churches’ experiences in this area and discuss future scenarios. The theme was articulated into three main sessions, dwelling on the themes which three crucial “institutions” are often confronted with in the migration phenomenon. Firstly the family, the fundamental unit of society, then the Christian community, both increasingly inter-cultural, and finally, the larger framework of Society as a whole. Follow excerpts from the “Malaga Message”. The fears. “During this Congress we have gained awareness once more of the dimension of migration in Europe. To date, we register the figure of 34 million immigrants, including 12 million internal migrants coming from the Countries of the European Union… Aside from the figures we have reflected on, we also register the burden of suffering, poverty and disheartenment that migrants carry. We also acknowledge that their presence awakens fear in the European public opinion, and that this often leads to an attitude of closure and xenophobia, compounded by the financial crisis currently underway. The response to these emerging fears is a range of restrictive policies which interact with the mainstream mindset. Though we are aware of this perception in European citizens, we have tried to single out some means to help them overcome such fears”.Mutual encounter and inter-cultural dialogue. “Cultural pluralism is today an inescapable feature of our societies. We are adamant that cultural pluralism does not necessarily lead to a form of relativism which denies our own identity, or on the other hand to a form of assimilation engendering relations based on coercion and violent reactions between groups of people. This pluralist predicament can be managed in a positive way through tools such as mutual encounter and inter-cultural dialogue… The Catholic Church in its entirety, with all Her traditions and different rites, brings Her contribution to the service of the human family, both in Europe and beyond. We believe that the Gospel of Christ maintains today all its momentum as an appeal to peoples to overcome fear and all forms of closure, as put forward by the social doctrine of the Church and the magisterium of the Popes”.Family. “The family, as the basic unit of society. For migrants, it plays a crucial role with regard to integration, as it ensures a safe environment of affective stability to all its members. It preserves and transmits cultural traditions and guarantees harmonious relations among generations. The Church never tires of reiterating the importance of the family as a fundamental right for every migrant person”.Christian community. “Ecclesial communities, which are invited to enhance their ability to welcome our brothers and sisters coming from different cultural and religious landscapes. Bishops, parishes and Catholic movements can become a prophetic sign for societies called to promote inter-cultural dialogue. Catholicity is an essential characteristic of the Church and as such, must be the concern of all the faithful in Christ. Christians participate in the sacramental visibility of the work of God: A sacrament of unity, the Church overcomes barriers and ideological or racial divisions”.Society. “Society, which is under the obligation of managing migration. The latter is a complex reality, in that it includes cultural, economic, juridical, social and religious aspects. All nations should engage in the development of a just framework so that human dignity may be respected. It is furthermore necessary that the international community commits to reducing the causes generating forced migration, so that this may be transformed into an option. Society should, on the other hand, also learn to highlight the positive aspects of human mobility.Appeal to migrants. “In conclusion, we call upon you, our migrant brothers and sisters in Europe, and particularly on those living in precarious conditions. We welcome you because we believe that every human being has the right to be received. We do not dwell on your origin, your religion or your culture: you are valued and loved by God. We all have gifts to exchange with one another”.