The Vatican representative at the United Nations in Geneva: Muslim immigrants often lack an understanding of European values - He also criticized that on the international stage Christian persecution is swept aside.
Vatican City (kath.net/KAP) The arrival of an increasing number of Muslim refugees in Europe can be a challenge for the Christian and democratic identity of the continent, were the words of the Vatican's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. Muslim immigrants often lack an understanding of European values, Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi said this weekend at Vatican Radio. These included respect for a pluralistic society, the separation of religion and politics and democracy. Although the inclusion of people in need is a Christian duty, Europe also has the right to "retain their own identity," said Tomasi. Muslims should not call into question the values of freedom.
The enormous increase in the numbers of refugees are from the perspective Tomasi, firstly, the result of a failed Middle East policy since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. "The situation in the Middle East has grown steadily worse since." On the other hand, people fleeing poverty, arising from a systematic policy of disparity between economically strong and weak countries. "There is a political will to maintain this inequality between countries," criticized Tomasi.
An important role was played by the interests of multinational corporations. In addition, the Vatican diplomat lamented, international indifference to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Apart from Pope Francis, who constantly remembers their suffering, the events are brushed aside on the international stage, "as if the human rights of Christians are not of equal importance like the rights of other persons". Copyright 2015 Catholic press agency Kathpress, Vienna, Austria
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