Errors we must not repeat

Next Sunday, 24 September, Swiss citizens are called to vote in a referendum on two separate laws that both treat the same question: the presence of foreigners in the country. On the two laws (one on asylum and the other on foreigners) the Justice and Peace Commission of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference and Swiss Caritas have repeatedly expressed a negative view, opposing them for “failing to respect the inalienable principle of human dignity”. This position has been reaffirmed by the bishops in recent days, in a statement put out at the end of their 273rd ordinary assembly. We asked Jacques Berset, director of the Swiss Catholic press agency APIC, for his thoughts on the question. Christian circles risk becoming a minority. On 24 September 2006 the Swiss people are called to vote on the new Law on Foreigners ( Loi sur les Etrangers ) and on the ninth reform of the Law on the Right of Asylum ( Loi sur l’Asile ). These two laws represent “important tools in combating the abuses committed by fake refugees, speculators and also criminals”, say those who are favourable to a tightening of the legislation, and in particular their leader, Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher. Blocher is the head of the Federal Department of Justice and of the Forces of Order, as well as mentor of the right-wing party UDC (Democratic Union of the Centre). The two laws were approved by a majority of the Swiss Parliament last year and can count on the backing of the parties of the right and centre, with some notable exceptions, especially in French-speaking Switzerland. The majority of the Democratic Party PDC is also favourable to them. The Vice-President of the party, Senator Bruno Frick, is of the view that even citizens who profess to be Christians can vote in favour of the two laws without sullying their conscience. The Swiss bishops take a very different view! A referendum on these two laws has been called by left-wing groups, with the support of the main Churches and religious communities, such as the Jewish community, which itself suffered the consequences of a closing of the frontiers during the Second World War. The coalition of NGOs for a humanitarian Switzerland points out that, if these laws are approved, they will have the perverse effect of increasing the number of clandestine immigrants and criminalizing those who, in the name of their own conscience, come to their aid. Under the new Law on Foreigners, the humanitarian organizations that give hospitality to a clandestine immigrant even for the night risk harsh punishment for their act of solidarity. The punishment may be for up to five years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of 500,000 francs if the perpetrator acts as member of a group or association. At the end of August, the Right Rev. Bernard Genoud, Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, chose a highly symbolic place – the “Franco-Suisse” restaurant straddling the frontier in the little town of La Cure in the Jura, whence many Jewish refugees reached Switzerland during the war – in which to express his opposition to the federal laws on political asylum and on foreigners, by virtue of the absolute dignity of the human person. He also confirmed the position of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference in their rejection of laws “that violate our constitutional state”. “With the Swiss bishops, we urge the Swiss people to vote ‘no’ twice [in the referendum], declared Bishop Genoud, emphasizing that for Christians there do not exist foreigners in Christ!”. He also recalled that, during the Second World War, some Swiss Catholics or bishops had failed to do everything in their power to welcome refugees. He recalled in particular that Switzerland has refused during that period to give asylum to a philosopher of Jewish origin, Edith Stein, who as a result perished in a gas chamber at Auschwitz. “This extraordinary Carmelite nun was declared a saint a few years ago”. “But we also witnessed heroic acts”, continued the bishop, recalling in particular the stance of Cardinal Journet, a highly respected voice, who earned Switzerland the protests of Adolf Hitler and who declared that, even if Swiss neutrality exists, “we don’t have the right, in any case, to neutrality of heart!”. In spite of the wide mobilization that transcends ideological frontiers – left-wing circles, “dissidents” of the right, NGOs, churches, Christian associations, artists, etc. – the public-opinion polls are clear: the two laws approved by parliamentary majority and exacerbated by Blocher will be approved by the Swiss people on 24 September. If that happens, we will have to be ever more alert not to repeat the errors of a not so distant past.