In their latest contribution (August 30), both Allan Gatt and Charles Gauci were preoccupied that the influx of irregular immigrants would, in the long run, affect our way of living and bring about a radical change in our culture
One of the pitfalls that economic growth has fallen into is its lack of moral and ethical perspective.
In the debate on irregular immigrants we now seem to be focusing on its cultural impact. When debating immigration we have to keep in mind two important factors. The main factor is the dignity of the human person. This has been emphasised in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church when it states: “every political, economic, social, scientific and cultural programme must be inspired by the awareness of the primacy of each human being over society” (132).
The second fact that we have to consider is globalization and the reality of diversity.
In a study on social cohesion conducted by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany, it was pointed out that “modern societies are based not on solidarity rooted in similarity but on solidarity rooted in diversity”.
Culture is not something static or autonomous. It also has to be guided by ethical principles and adapted to the new realities of society. Culture is at the service of the human person and it is the human person that dictates the mores and values of society.
Once more, the social teachings of the Church emphasise that “the integral perfection of the person and the good of the whole of society are the essential ends of culture... A culture can become sterile and headed for decadence when it becomes inward looking and tries to perpetuate obsolete ways of living by rejecting any exchange or debate with regard to the truth about man” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church [556]).
Controlling the influx of foreigners and irregular immigrants because of the size of the country is one thing but inhibiting those who are here from integrating into our society on the basis of their differences would impoverish this society and isolate it from today’s reality.