The Church’s silence on the plight of irregular migrants is becoming “deafening”, according to columnist Fr Joe Borg. In an opinion piece published in today’s The Sunday Times of Malta Fr Borg writes that hatred towards irregular migrants attacks the core of the gospel message.

“The silence of the bishops risks putting water on the xenophobic grindstone of many, even among those who populate our sacristies and read Jesus’ precept that ‘whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me’,” the priest wrote. “This silence of our bishops empowers these foghorns who pontificate as if they are the champions of Catholic faith.”

While mostly silent on immigration, the bishops yesterday issued a statement appealing for prayers for Egypt and Syria and saying they would be issuing a call for donations to help people in those countries.

Attitudes towards irregular migrants and asylum seekers appear to have hardened this summer in line with the Government’s tough talk.

Last month, the Government had prepared two planes to send Somali irregular migrants rescued at sea back to Libya without giving them a chance to apply for asylum before it was stopped by the European Court of Human Rights.

The Government also refused to allow the tanker MT Salamis to enter Maltese waters after it rescued 102 irregular migrants at sea this month.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström received a torrent of abuse from Maltese social media users after she called on Malta to allow the migrants on the MT Salamis to disembark.

“The bishops should adopt a very strong public position against the tsunami of hate and racist comments inundating social networks. The Church’s silence and absence on the immigration issue makes me – and not only me – sad,” Fr Borg wrote.

This silence empowers these foghorns who pontificate- Fr Joe Borg

He compared the attitude of the Church in Malta with the US, where bishops are urging Catholics to write to their elected representatives asking them to support legislation which, among other things, provides a path to citizenship for irregular migrants.

Last month, Pope Francis visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, which receives a large amount of irregular migrants.

While there he criticised the indifference shown to the suffering of the poor.

The day after his visit, Maltese bishops released a brief statement urging the Government to safeguard the dignity of all those who arrived in Malta.