A message from Renato Cardinal Martino.
If paleos read this, it will surely provoke some sort of reaction. I think it presents an overly optimistic picture of 'migration'. The message refers to the instruction Erga migrantes caritas Christi - The love of Christ towards migrants (Catholic Culture archive), which I will have to read. It may be necessary to accept the the movement of large populations in times of emergency, but praising multiculturalism as a good in itself, without acknowledging its problems, is a bit too much:
As a matter of fact, this condensed expression condenses a series of positive features, rising above the controversial and dark facets of migration, beginning with the observation that "the passage from monocultural to multicultural societies can be a sign of the living presence of God in history and in the community of mankind, for it offers a providential opportunity for the fulfillment of God’s plan for a universal communion" (n. 9).
What does the original instruction add?
Can there be a respect of identity if identity is built upon a competing tradition? How far must tolerance extend? If conformity to a community's mores cannot be legislated, then might it not be understandable if the citizens of that community seek some measure of separation? Would it not be better to share the land and other resources while maintaining separate communities, in order to protect the a community's way of life?
Therefore Christians are called to give witness to and practise not only the spirit of tolerance – itself a great achievement, politically and culturally speaking, not to mention religiously – but also respect for the other’s identity. Thus, where it is possible and opportune, they can open a way towards sharing with people of different origins and cultures, also in view of a “respectful proclamation” of their own faith. We are all therefore called to a culture of solidarity[7], often solicited by the Magisterium, so as to achieve together a real communion of persons. This is the laborious path that the Church invites everyone to follow.
How can we talk about what the Church can do with respect to migration, if the Church in those areas to which people are immigrating is in such bad shape? It would be one thing to write such a document if the Church were healthy, but in a time like this, does it really contribute anything meaningful? And does such a document not reinforce the failed politike grounded in the modern nation-state? While it may be too late for some contemporary nation-states to look for a localist solution to what ails them, should not the Curia at least do what it can to encourage such solutions, instead of issuing documents giving universal recommendations or guidelines? (Particularly if such recommendations do not seem to be grounded upon an understanding of political science.) If people were willing to migrate to a country were experiencing civil war, famine, pestilence, per impossibile, would we encourage it to welcome such migrants? Would we not say that the addition of people to the polity would not be good for all involved? And yet is it not possible that industrialized countries have problems that have not yet fully manifested themselves, even while having an appearance of affluence and prosperity?
How influential are such documents upon political leaders and citizens? Is writing of such documents necessary to justify the existence of certain offices?
More, if I ever have time to read the instruction.
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