The @GeorgiaBulletin has published an article about Holy Trinity Catholic Chuch in Peachtree City, Georgia sponsoring a #Refugee family. As a @CatholicRelief Global Fellow I attended the Refugee Forum that was held there. The parishioners at Holy Trinity should be commended for their compassion!
Category: CRS
Action for Refugees
Justice for Immigrants is sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and invites all people of good faith to learn and speak out on behalf of refugees fleeing for their lives.
The U.S. House of Representatives, House Judicary Committee is considering a bill that would restrict refugee resettlement, refuse entry to famlies fleeing ISIS and civil war. In addition, this legislation would, for the first time in U.S. history allow states to ‘veto’ resettlement restricting the free movement of persons between states (this is likely unconstitutional). All this despite the fact that refugees are carefully vetted before entering the U.S. How absurd that a nation of immigrants would consider this action out of fear. My own representative Lynn Westmoreland wrote to me saying that the suspicion that one Paris terrorist possibly had a refugee passport (just the suspicion) leads him to want to restrict refugee resettlement. How cowardly we have become when we turn away thousands fleeing for their lives out of fear that one potential terrorist might somehow, someway get in. Where has the Greatest Generation gone, they are not in Washington now.
We should stand up to this silliness as Germany is doing and speak out against such an unjust and most likely unconstitutional law. It is most likely an election year ploy, but this is a crazy election year indeed. Please go to this link to see how your voice can be heard: Justice for Immigrants – Refugee Resettlement
Pope Francis and Refugees
Refugees from war and ISIS deserve our respect and service. A wide range of institutions struggle to serve their daily needs including Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Internationalis, Doctors Without Borders, UNHCR, and many others. Pope Francis in a public act of love will wash the feet of refugees on Holy Thursday, see Pope Francis to Wash Refugee’s Feet. Pope Francis calls the world to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It is time that we put our fear aside and emulate the faith hope and love that have always been the hallmark of people of good will and of true Christianity.
Refugees Seek New Route – Some Die
Refugees who have escaped the violence of civil war and ISIS are still not assured of safety, even after reaching Greece. With the closure of the Macedonian border over 12,000 refugees are pressed into a squalid encampment at the Greece – Macedonian border. The camp which was intended for 1,500 people is clearly overrun. Continue reading “Refugees Seek New Route – Some Die”
Notes on the Syrian Exodus
Richard Flanagan, a Booker Prize winning author has written an article for London’s Guardian about what he witnessed in Lebanon and the Balkans. His experiences and reaction are very similar to those I had during our Catholic Relief Services trip in January. It is a long article but insightful. If you don have time, at least watch his video: Richard Flanagan – Syrian Refugees
Notes on the Syrian Exodus – Richard Flanagan
Today, in my archdiocese (and in many others), is the collection for Catholic Relief Services. CRS is providing essential services to the refugees, helping them stay alive on this perilous journey. Whether you are Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, (any other faith), or atheist, you are human. Please consider supporting this humanitarian effort. Go to Syrian Refugee Crisis – CRS and click the donate link in the top right.
@CatholicRelief #RefugeeCrisis
TED Talk: Our Refugee System is Failing
Alexander Betts is the director of the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. In February of this year he gave an insightful TED Talk in Vancouver, Canada. His talk is worth the 17 minutes you will need to listen to it:
Alexander Betts: Our Refugee System is Failing, Here’s How We Can Fix It
He critiques the European response to the current #RefugeeCrisis. His critique could be applied to all countries around the world, including my own, the United States. Mr. Betts offers some new ideas on dealing with the situation and some compelling information on how refugees can be a economic positive to their host countries. He believes that refugee assimilation can occur and contributions by refugees can be significant. He is correct, this crisis and other migrations will continue to take place. Perhaps consideration of a new approach is worthwhile.
Thomas Awiapo – What is Lent @CatholicRelief
This is another excellent installment about Lent from @CatholicRelief. Thomas is a wonderful speaker.
Refugee Bottleneck in Greece
The refugee situation in Greece, the Western Balkans and Europe is getting worse, just as more are attempting to flee the war and persecution by ISIS and other terrorists groups. What seems to be constantly lost in the politics, planning and reporting is that these are real human beings. They are caught between certain or likely death and running for their lives. Partially or completely closing borders might alleviate a migration problem but those actions put the refugee’s lives at risk. Trading innocent lives for “secure borders” is simply immoral. The Economist describes the latest governmental actions:
Economist – Hard lines: Greece’s migrant bottleneck
#SyrianRefugeeCrisis #RefugeeCrisis
What is Lent – Deacon Ron Hansen
I was fortunate to travel with Deacon Ron Hansen and other CRS Global Fellows to Kenya in 2014 on a Catholic Relief Services trip. Deacon Ron is a compassionate, loving Deacon and really talented Global Fellow. He is a noted author, storyteller and from my experience, great friend! Deacon Ron shares his insights on Lent in this video, another in the series from CRS. What is Lent – Deacon Ron Hansen
Peace!
What is Lent – Cardinal Timothy Dolan
This is another fine video in the series about the Lenten season by Catholic Relief Services. This installment features a reflection by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.
A Deacon's View 