The future together

Sociologists, historians, parliamentarians, members of the Church and social workers are the protagonists of the 85th Social Week of France that will take place at the “Parc Floral” in Paris next November 26-28. This year’s theme is: “Migrants, building the future together”. The Social Week of France’s typical feature is ecumenism. The first day, Church representatives in France will introduce the theme of the encounter. These are: Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, president of the French Bishops’ Conference, Jean-Charles Tenreire, President of the Reformation Church for Ille de France, and Msgr. Gabriel de Comane, archbishop of the Orthodox Russian Churches in Western Europe. Given the relevant topic, migrant speakers will deliver panel addresses, followed by debate and exchanges. The topic is integration “between reality and models”, along with the relationship between the Northern and the Southern hemispheres. The meeting will be attended also by 150 young delegates aged 18-30 years, arriving from all over Europe. They will have special meetings and moments of prayer animated by the Fathers of Taizé. Follows an interview to Jérôme Vignon , President of the Social Weeks of France, available on the website of the French Bishops’ Conference. Why was the theme: “Migrants, building the future together”, chosen for the 85th Social Week of France? “It was a request put forward by participants in the previous Weeks. In 2008 we proposed a series of topics, that included the role of migrants in European societies, along with employment-related issues and the economic crisis. Last year, it was asked that the Social Weeks dedicate a reflection to migration. The Week’s theme was thus decided by popular request, long before the migration legislative debates sparked off before the Roma expulsions were spotlighted at European level. In 1997 we had already discussed this subject. Over the past 14 years, societal gaps regarding hospitality, reception, integration and identity have incessantly widened, reaching the point of become a source of conflicts. It is yet another reason not to ignore this debate, which is part of the social doctrine of the Church. How do the Churches and the Catholic Church in France contribute to the debate? “The Social Week was born and develops under the banner of ecumenism. The theme of migration is a question that involves the family; it’s a Christian theme; a theme over which political action acknowledged its inability to hold far-reaching and constructive public discourse. The wave of xenophobia in Europe, the tendency to fears and closures influences European majority-coalition parties. The Church must speak out and inspire politicians! We realize that we need immigrants. They are important for society. But these claims don’t reach the hearts. Migrants’ presence in our society is a question that holds a profound symbolic dimension. It entails the perception of one’s own future, one’s role in society, etc. It raises the question of otherness and self-confidence in order to communicate with others. The contribution of the Catholic Church, the courage of the bishops and of the pope are irreplaceable. These contributions are not only positive. They are necessary”. What are the challenges of such debate? “For some of our citizens this theme clashes with their own concerns, fears and injustice perceptions. It also involves the divisions within the Christian population. Many practicing Catholics, for example, disagree with the stand of Church Magisterium. Divisions became evident in the debate on the Roma. Some Catholics felt they were locked in a given stance, which they viewed as moralizing. The question is: how must we live the fundamental principles of reception and respect when we feel that our identity is being threatened and destabilized? We listen to the different positions, in order to bring everyone on a common journey. Everyone is asked to overcome his/her personal opinion in order to undertake a process of discernment. It is a question of relating oneself to greater challenges and questions. We try to give a meaning to things; the extreme positions we condemn, not only as Christians but also as citizens of the French Republic. However, it is not our intention to discuss chief systems, we want to discern whilst considering the details. We will use the arguments of reason, and in this we will seek the help of political experts and politicians. However, we will also appeal to the convincing reasons of the heart and of faith also listening to the voices of the migrants. The 2010 Social Week will be marked by topical events. In these days we intend to follow the developments of a debate which is lively by nature, on the law on migration and on the rights of foreigners in France. We want each participant to live three days as a moment of formation and as a spiritual experience, with moments of prayer, celebration, and encounters in fraternity”.