Archbishop calls for an end to hostility towards immigrants

The Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, in his St Patrick’s Day message, has rebuked those who foment “hostility” towards immigrants making Ireland their home.

The claim by some behind the recent anti-immigrant protests that “they are motivated by a desire to defend our Christian heritage” is “nothing more than a lie,” said Dr. Farrell.

The head of the country’s largest diocese said that apart from the fact that many immigrants and refugees profess and practice “a deep Christian faith”, the exclusion of the stranger is a denial of a core value of the faith.

“It behooves us, therefore, not to forget the Irish emigration story as we consider how to welcome the many thousands who have recently come to seek opportunity and refuge in our midst,” he said.

Speaking at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral on National Day, Dr. Farrell said the Christian community was called to “reflect the Irish tradition of welcoming the stranger, just as the children of this country for generations have hoped for a similar welcome in their day.” .

The language of hate must never be normalized or accepted, or the labeling of individuals and communities with “stereotypes that dehumanize and alienate,” he said.

dr Farrell appealed to people not to turn a blind eye to discrimination or to let go unchallenged those determined to spread fear and hatred through lies and distortions.

Acknowledging there are challenges to be met, he said that in his own diocese more than one in six was born outside Ireland. Describing this as “a stunning statistic,” he said: “Rapid population growth and past policy decisions have put extreme pressure on housing and other essential services.

“The way we organize things can make it difficult to act quickly to avert a crisis.

“There are those who have waited a long time for their needs to be met and they have real concerns that they may continue to lose if others live in this society.”

Describing Ireland as “a generous country”, he added: “We are a people who can rise to the challenge of being welcome.”

People of faith, he said, have a responsibility to encourage politicians and civil society leaders to better provide the infrastructure and services that “everyone in our communities so desperately needs.”