The Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community recommended “a more humane approach to immigration” and “greater flexibility and a sensibility to human needs”. They issued the statement after discussing immigration at a plenary meeting.

The EU bishops also said immigration laws “must in all cases be respected”. Noting that there were at present big differences between the immigration policies of member states, the bishops called for a common EU policy on immigration. They also said the countries of origin should be helped in a coordinated way and that countries of transit should be supported.

‘Manipulative’ Church groups condemned

The president of the French bishops’ conference, Bishop Georges Pontier, acknowledged that there are practices used by some Church groups that can be labelled as manipulative of the conscience of the individual. In the name of the French bishops he said such practices are opposed by the bishops as the Gospel of Christ is “a school of freedom”.

Mgr Pontier was reacting to critics who said that practices among groups such as the Legion of Christ, the Beatitudes community and the Community of St John were leading to the “destruction of personalities”.

On the other hand, Mgr Pontier warned against the dangers of generalisation.

Cardinal denounces Chinese oppression

In an interview with Catholic news agency Zenit, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who served as bishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009, said: “[In China] there is absolute control, contempt for the Church, the humiliation of our bishops. Some of them have been in prison for 10 years! We, who in Hong Kong still have freedom of speech, must make our voice heard and say what we think.

“There are those who are content with an apparent harmony to avoid any clash. But this is mistaken – because arrogance is encouraged by silence. Instead, it is a duty to continue to talk and to protest, especially for religious liberty.

“So many cardinals have come, but what have they resolved? They haven’t done anything. They let themselves be photographed and embraced by illegitimate bishops, and, returning to their countries, they have praised China, when instead they saw nothing of the truth.”

N. Koreans executed for having Bibles

Among the 80 people recently reported executed in North Korea there was a group whose only ‘crime’ was the possession of Bibles. This was reported in Korea Joongang Daily.

Such executions are carried out in public. In the city of Wonsan, 10,000 people, including children, where gathered in a nearby stadium and forced to watch the executions.

Poverty erodes society

In a statement, the Bishops of England and Wales said: “Many families and individuals in our society face a continuing struggle with real poverty and the challenge this brings of living with human dignity.

“Pope Francis has emphasised that care of the poor, and serving those in need are fundamental to the life of the Church, and that ‘among our tasks as witnesses to the love of Christ is that of giving a voice to the cry of the poor’.

“The divisive nature of poverty threatens the fabric of our society. Widening economic inequality corrodes the common good, and further steps are needed both to curb unjustifiably high pay, and to promote a living wage for all in work.”

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)

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