The Church voices its concern for the endless discrimination of the gypsy community in Portugal. In the final release of the 33rd National meeting of the pastoral of the gypsies (Fatima 17-19 November), the Church condemned “the insisted discrimination of the gypsy families in the letting of houses, in schools, in people’s opinion”. In particular, the release criticises the attitude of the local powers “that prevent nomadic families staying for over a few days, in the planned municipal facilities, but actually strive to have them driven out of the territory”. Given “the systematic repression, discrimination and exclusion of the nomadic communities in Portugal over five centuries”, the participants in the meeting also wished for them “appropriate financial reparation” and a renewal of the local regulations to protect street trading, which remains the main means of subsistence for such populations. As to the evangelisation plans, they are considering the need and expediency of enriching the liturgy with the contribution of the gypsy culture.
