” “"Political commitment on a world scale" is essential "to face the ultimate causes that lead to forced migration: poverty, abuse, injustice, underdevelopment, unemployment"; however, "cultural commitment" is equally essential "to raise public awareness about the centrality of the person, the criticism of xenophobia, often furthered by the mass media, the support to a true integration that preserves people’s identity". These are the conclusions drawn by the secretaries general of the European Bishops Conferences that gathered a few days ago in Minsk, Belarus, on the initiative of Ccee (Council of the European Bishops Conferences). The subject of the meeting was "Migration: a challenge for Europe". "The Church states a release published after the meeting is worried about the social problems that are associated with migrations: illegality, unemployment, the ageing of the population in the native countries, the trafficking of human beings, broken families, children who grow without their parents… the Christians’ charitable work and care are an urgent and straightforward response to such challenges", but they must be supported by "political and cultural commitment", a special pastoral care for "the different ethnic groups" and the ability to handle "the meeting of the different religions, which is totally new for some countries". (continued)
