Combat racist politicians with dialogue and generosity says bishop

Understanding the “desperate” situations refugees flee from will help communities combat fear and influence from racist ideologies and politicians, according to the Bishop of Ferns.

Returning from a conference about migration in Greece, which is on the frontline of the refugee crisis in Europe, Bishop Denis Brennan said there’s “always a possibility” that politicians will try to use migration issues to bolster their popularity when people feel threatened.

“Most people are pretty generous and decent about these things, but there’s always a danger and that’s why I suppose we have to be careful and we have to emphasise the positive and the Gospel side of it too – to welcome the stranger,” he told this paper.

The conference was held in Athens on the topic Conference on the Pastoral and Social Care of Migrants and Refugees, organised by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

So far Greece has received 1.5 million migrants and refugees, and many delegates highlighted the issues southern European countries are facing for residents and refugees – with dialogue and understanding being key for avoiding negative feeling.

Dialogue

Bishop Brennan praised some residents of the Leitrim town of Ballinamore, who, through dialogue with the Government, came to a favourable solution about the number of asylum seekers going to the town and welcomed them.

“It was lovely to see Ballinamore on the news, that gives you hope because you see the community and authorities coming in, they could sit down and talk about it and people were involved in it.”

There has been several incidences around Ireland this year in which communities have protested outside sites earmarked for direct provision centres.

Two of these are Oughterard and Achill Island, where the communities felt there was a lack of consultation and thought put into where the Department of Justice decided to open direct provision centres.

Bishop Brennan added: “These people are fleeing from really desperate situation, life threatening situations and the Holy Father always asks people in the destination countries, the receiving countries, to be as generous as they can and I think that’s the best way of putting it, nobody wants to tell people or should tell people what to do or how much to do, but I think when we ask people to be as generous as they can and understand the need, I think people will respond.”