Roma, fielded Churches ” “

According to the last Census of 2011, something over 13,000 inhabitants of the Czech republic claim to be of Roma nationality. According to estimations of the European Roma Rights Center their number is much higher – more than 250,000. Although they live in all regions of Bohemia and Moravia, in certain parts of the country their concentration is higher and those are the places where the ethnic tension between the majority and the Roma minority escalated in the past months. So much that it has drawn attention not only of politicians but also the representatives of the Catholic Church feel the need to intervene and help. Appeal for peace. The Czech Bishops’ conference represented by its president, cardinal Dominik Duka, the Ecumenical Council of Churches and the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech republic issued a joint statement the last week in regard to “growing radicalism in the society”. They draw attention to number of public gatherings and demonstrations in 2013, which – intending to rise awareness of problems in coexistence between the majority of inhabitants and Roma people – have turned into violent conflicts. “It’s very dangerous that the racist tendencies are legitimized as a part of serious political argumentation”, write religious leaders. “We don’t want to pretend that the problems in coexistence – and sometimes very serious problems – do not exist. But we strictly refuse the idea that violence, nationalism and racism could solve them. Roma people are the citizens of this country just like anybody else, and from the religious point of view they are God’s children like the rest of us”, reads the appeal, turning to all inhabitants of the country to refuse any form of violence, populism and demonstration of hatred, because this behavior “leads to tragedies that sooner or later could affect the whole society”. Roma activists, in cooperation with Christian institutions and several non-governmental organizations organized a peaceful demonstration entitled “Colourful Ostrava” for 28 October, hoping that the event could be “an alternative to attitudes of majority of inhabitants towards Roma people influenced by fear and social insecurity”. Bishop of Ostrava-Opava, Mons. Frantisek Lobkowicz is also concerned about tensions in the northern part of Moravia. In his pastoral letter he writes about the crucial role of Christians in searching for “solidarity and reciprocity”, meaning not only efforts to calm down the situation but also concrete steps for integration of Roma people in the society. Concrete steps in education. Education of children, offer of opportunities for meaningful spending of free times for youth, care for socially emarginated groups of Roma people, protection of the Roma identity – these are the main areas of interest of the Catholic Church in regard to concrete work with this ethnical minority. Logically, the attention focuses mainly on the groups of lower age – children and youth who “represent the future of Roma community”. Their education and training lies at the center of the efforts of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian Center of Stepán Trochta has been trying for several years to contribute to better integration of Roma minority in Teplice through its special pedagogical and social programs”, explains Jana Michálková, spokesperson for the Litomerice diocese. In the diocese of Ostrava-Opava, the Catholic Church has established a Basic school of Premysl Pittr with 100% of Roma pupils. “The concept of education in this school lies in individual approach to children gathered in smaller groups than in common schools, with aim to pay particular attention to each one of them. Our goal is to reach the level of education and behaviour that would be comparable with results of any other basic school in the country”, says Pavel Siuda, spokesman of the diocese. Pastoral care and charitable service. “Priests in parishes with higher number of Roma believers adapt their pastoral care to this condition”, explains Jirí Gracka, spokesman of the Olomouc diocese, adding one concrete example: “Among Roma people there is a habit of having blessed the Christmas trees. Although this tradition refers only to Roma families, the local priest has adopted a habit to visit the households in his parish to pray with the faithful and bless the trees”. Representatives of the Catholic Church point to the fact that in towns and villages with bigger Roma communities there’s a demand to invest a large amount of efforts to facilitate their decent existence. Some of the local offices of Caritas have been established for this actual purpose. According to former director of Caritas Vsetín Kvetoslava Othová, showing a good example is the best way to communicate with Roma people: “I have very good experience with a Roma woman who worked for our Caritas office some time ago. She had only a basic education but was extremely keen on learning things. It’s often enough to change our behaviour towards these people – pay real attention, give them sense of responsibility, education. Just give them a real chance”.