One Catholic Deacon's View and Musings on the World
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”
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
The Archdiocese of Atlanta has published an article in the Georgia Bulletin about ongoing refugee crisis in the Balkans. Consider praying, learning, advocating and giving to help these families fleeing from war, devastation and ISIS persecution. They need help now!
Georgia Bulletin on Refugee Crisis in Balkans
Deacon Bill and I are available to speak about what is really happening in the Balkans to any group that wants to know more. Let us know if you want to see beyond the media reports and election year rhetoric to know the facts from eyewitnesses. We will share the facts about the situation, humanitarian response and ongoing issues (free of charge of course!). Peace –
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.
The crisis is worsening with Macedonia slowing/stopping refugee migration. Tens of thousands of refugees are now in Greece and trapped. Now that Macedonia has closed its borders to refugees that desire to transit the country as they make their way to Northern Europe, the refugees are stuck and so are the Greek people. The refugees cannot move forward, northward into Europe and they cannot (will not and should not) return to their countries and the wars that displaced them. So they are just stuck in Greece. A report today reveals that those now trapped in Greece are mostly women and children: Refugees in Greece are Mostly Women and Children. During our Catholic Relief trip, about 65% of the refugees were Women and Children, that percentage now appears to be increasing. Continue reading “Refugees Stuck in Greece – Women & Children – #RefugeeCrisis Worsens”
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!
An Indian proverb from the 4th century BC says, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” No one who has been awake for the last 15 years would consider ISIS, AL-Qaeda or the Taliban friends of the United States. In fact, the evidence is overwhelming that these groups and the U.S. are enemies. It is strange therefore, that refugees (people like you and me) who are in a desperate flight from war and persecution by these groups, are not generally seen as our friends. The refugees we encountered during our Catholic Relief Services trip to the Balkans opposed the civil war between the Assad regime and the rebels, and they were terrified of ISIS, the Taliban and similar groups. They are enemies of our enemies, but not considered friends by most Americans. This thinking simply isn’t rational.
If we think rationally, shouldn’t we provide as much aid and assistance as we can to refugees who are fleeing Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan because they fear they will be killed by these terrorist groups? CRS, Caritas and other agencies are working hard but the flow of people escaping ISIS is overwhelming. More support, prayers, and resources are needed in this vast humanitarian crisis.
Caritas has posted several stories about what is happening at the Greece/Macedonia border, who some of these refugees are and why they have come. It is worth reading. I believe it is much easier to see these refugees as friends in need when we understand that they are doing exactly what we would do if confronted and outgunned by so brutal an enemy, run to safety and hopefully toward friends. Here is the Caritas story: Refugees and migrants on the Greek Border with Macedonia
The #RefugeeCrisis must be addressed. Peace!
I traveled with Deacon Scott to the Balkans with @CatholicRelief to see the #RefugeeCrisis firsthand. This is Deacon Scott’s perspective as reported by his Diocesan Newspaper, The Record. http://therecordnewspaper.org/rice-bowl-event-highlights-need-in-world/
Catholic Relief Services has a Media Center that contains information about a wide range of CRS humanitarian efforts taking place around the world. The work done by CRS is done in the name of the American Catholic Church, so all American Catholics should have an interest in this work. Today there are posts related to the Pope’s visit to Central America, work in the Central African Republic, and our Global Fellows trip to the Balkans. You can access the CRS Media Center at the following link: CRS Media Center
#CatholicRelief is on the ground, providing humanitarian aid during this #RefugeeCrisis
A Deacon's View 