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Tijuana (Agenzia Fides) – Twenty Catholic Bishops from Mexico, United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Cuba, Guatemala and Honduras, reflected with lay people and experts in the field, on the need to work together to examine the issue of immigration and the political situation in the country of origin, transit and destination. The occasion was the 1st Meeting of the Bishops' Conferences of Mexico, United States and Central America, held in Tijana, Lower California (Mexico), 17 - 19 June. The participants also discussed neo liberal policies and repercussions on the growing phenomenon of migration in Mexico and central America.
The Apostolic Nuncio in Mexico Archbishop Christophe Pierre said the Catholic Church cannot ignore a phenomenon such as migration and aims to promote the integration of immigrants. He said the Church should strive to encourage society to globalise solidarity towards immigrants. “The Church's position is to help countries dialogue on the issue of migration which involves all social groups in Latin America ” said Archbishop Pierre.
The President of the Bishops' Commission for social pastoral, Bishop Gustavo Rodríguez Vega auxiliary of Monterrey, said the Church must work to promote respect for the rights of immigrants, to prevent injustice and seek to improve living conditions so poor people are not forced to emigrate. The Bishops said emigration must be a choice not an obligation. For his part Archbishop Rafael Ottuso Muñoz of Tijuana, said the Church's main concern is that immigrants are denied human rights and often deported.
At the end of the meeting the Bishops said a solution must be found to the issue of illegal immigration and the treatment of immigrants who move to the North, because more than 5.000 people have died on the USA-Mexico border and respect for human rights of immigrants must be guaranteed. The Apostolic Nuncio in Mexico said governments which oblige citizens to leave the country in search of work and cross dangers borders share responsibility for the death of illegal immigrants. The Nuncio encouraged the local Catholic Churches in their activity to assist immigrants at numerous Catholic aid centres at the main border points.
The Bishops' proposals for action presented at the end of the Meeting included the creation of support team to assist immigrants and help governments elaborate statements. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/6/2008)
