The Catholic Church on refugees

Statements by Catholic Church hierarchs from January 14, 2018

Pope Francis: – Doubt and fear [przed uchodźcami] are not sins. The sin is accepting that these fears define our reactions, condition our decisions, harm respect and generosity, and fuel hatred and rejection.

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference: – The safety of a refugee who needs help is more important than national security.

Archbishop Wojciech Polak, Primate of Poland: – I am even more concerned that so many people are hostile toward refugees or emigrants. It is worth understanding, as the Pope tells us, that this concerns specific people. This is the idea behind the humanitarian corridors proposed by the Episcopate: providing help to specific, carefully selected people in need. And they often cannot obtain such help where they are.

Delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the Pastoral Care of Polish Emigrants Bishop Wiesław Lechowicz: – Let us pray for migrants and refugees, so that they may receive a hospitable welcome, protection of their rights, and respect for themselves and their culture.

Archbishop of Warsaw, Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz: – Do not oppress foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners. These words absolutely apply to our Polish situation. How many times have we been those who emigrated, not merely refugees.

What do Poles who practice their faith say?

In December 2017, CBOS asked Poles who participate in religious practices the following question:

“Due to the large influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa into some European Union countries, these countries are unable to cope with this problem. Should Poland accept some of the refugees arriving in Europe?”

Among those who declared that they participated in religious practices several times a week:

  • 81% answered “No”
  • 11% answered “Yes”
  • the remainder had no opinion

Among those who declared that they participated in religious practices at least once a week:

  • 79% answered “No”
  • 15% answered “Yes”
  • the remainder had no opinion

Source: CBOS, Attitudes Toward Accepting Refugees, December 2017

Do you want to help refugees?

The uchodźcy.info portal is currently raising funds to help refugee children with homework and integration in Poland. Thanks to your help, in 2018 we will be able to continue providing them with Polish tutoring and offer various forms of individual support, such as psychological assistance and integration trips.

More information and an opportunity to support these activities are available at pomagam.pl/dzieciuchodzcy.

Would you like to learn more about refugees? Visit: uchodzcy.info