Category: Refugees

JustAScottishGirl Blog: Remembering…

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A few months ago I posted from a blog written by a woman who goes by the name JustAScottishGirl.  She has spent the better part of the past 10 months working with the refugees who are coming ashore on the island of Kos, Greece.  Today she posted another poignant piece reflecting on her time there and the successes and failures she has witnessed.  It is well worth reading.

Memories are funny things, they sneak up on you when you least expect, making you feel want to have a little cry in the middle of dinner or making you burst out laughing when you are with… 

Read it all here: Remembering…

The Georgia Bulletin: The Refugee Crisis in Europe from an Eyewitness’ Perspective

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POPE GENERAL AUDIENCE
Pope Francis walks with refugees as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican June 22.  The pope invited more than a dozen refugees to sit near him on stage during his catechesis.  CNS photo/Paul Haring

This Commentary was authored for The Georgia Bulletin and was published on July 7, 2016.  Please read the full commentary at:  Deacon Steve Swope’s Georgia Bulletin Commentary on Refugees.

Generosity and Courage

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The Ahmed family at the home of Jim and Peggy Karas, left, who were joined by other sponsors. Credit Damon Winter/The New York Times

This is what generosity looks like when we are freed from the irrational fear of refugees.  This Canadian model is worthy of praise and imitation.  Read the NYT Article: Refugees Encounter a Foreign Word – Welcome!

#WorldRefugeeDay is Today

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“Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Second World War. This presents us with great challenges and many hard decisions …  We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation.”  – Pope Francis

Today is World Refugee Day.  It is time to show world leaders that the global public stands in solidarity with the millions of refugees who have fled their homes due to war or persecution.  These are real people with families whose lives, hopes and dreams have been dramatically disrupted by conflict.  Each of us can make a difference by contacting our national leaders and asking for their support to aid refugees, work to end the conflicts that have led to their fleeing and help to return them home.  Your voice and mine can make a difference.

Southern Baptists Support Refugee Resettlement

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Delegates praying at the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis. (Jeff Robertson/AP)
In opposition to Donald Trump’s constant rhetoric against refugees, the SBC has chosen Christianity xenophobic  nationalism and called for an increase in refugee resettlement in the United States.  The Catholic Church and the Southern Baptists stand in solidarity on this and many other issues.  Read more: SBC Split with Trump

A Refugee “Do Unto Others” Story

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A 1945 photo of a Greek refugee camp in Nuseirat, southern Palestine (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration)

From 1940-1945 the countries of the Middle East accepted refugees fleeing war torn Europe.   It does not seem too much to ask that the same generosity now be extended to war refugees from the Middle East fleeing toward Europe.
The full, mostly forgotten story is here.

Refugees Risk Death for Freedom and Peace

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Pope Francis holds a used life vest. (Gregorio Borgio/Reuters)

In the past six days over 700 people, real humans with lives, families and dreams have died seeking refuge from war and pesecution. I have been asked if refugees are crazy for trying to escape or if they are a threat.  The answer is clear, only someone who is desperate would risk death to escape the violence of their home country.  Crazy people wouldn’t be rational enough to leave and terrorists would be crazy to take a high risk, Continue reading “Refugees Risk Death for Freedom and Peace” →

Couric Interview of Refugees Aided by Pope Francis

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Katie Couric interviews two of the refugee families assisted by Pope Francis:

PBS NewsHour – Couric Interview with Refugees

Over the past few months I’ve been blogging about refugees who are fleeing war and persecution.  A dear friend of mine saw a PBS news report done by Katie Couric on the refugee families that were rescued by Pope Francis. She passed the information on to me so I could post a video of Couric’s report because, “basically she reiterated everything you have been saying… All they want is to make a living, send their children to school, have peace in Syria and go home. I thought it might be worth you trying to find it just to reinforce this is not just your opinion.”

Couric interviewed two families who were taken to Italy from Lesbos by Pope Francis.  In this very short video the families share with Couric their gratitude for their safety, the reasons they fled, and their efforts to integrate into Italian society.  It is worth watching.