International Refugee Day - 20 June 2016
Categories: Articles:Asylum & Refugees |
Published: 17/06/2016 |
Views: 1784
A joint statement from Scotland’s faith communities
On International Refugee Day 2016 we offer our solidarity to those seeking sanctuary, and we encourage and commend faith communities who work with refugees to provide hospitality and to seek to build mutual understanding.
As representatives of faith traditions and organisations assisting faith communities in the struggle against poverty we share an imperative to offer compassion and justice to those who are afraid and oppressed. We are saddened that there are those who would tear down bridges in place of strengthening human relationships and we pray for the healing of the scars which trouble the world.
We believe in the importance of citizens playing an active and constructive role in society, contributing to the common good, and in the name of our common humanity we believe in the obligation on those who have the power and ability to help those in desperate need.
On International Refugee Day 2016 we offer our solidarity to those seeking sanctuary, and we encourage and commend faith communities who work with refugees to provide hospitality and to seek to build mutual understanding.
We urge the UK Government to adopt and develop its refugee and asylum policies based on hope and protection for the most vulnerable. We further call on the UK to take a fairer proportion of refugees wherever there is human need, and to develop safe and legal routes to the UK for those fleeing terror and war.
We ask the Scottish Government and local authorities to continue to do everything in their power to offer protection to as many refugees as possible, providing support to help them integrate, and empowering local communities to welcome their new neighbours.
The mass displacement of people is the reality of the world today, and will continue for many years to come. As faith communities, aware of our own histories and grateful to live in relative safety and prosperity, our concern and generosity should be demonstrated through both prayer and action, so that we build on the work already happening in many parts of Scotland in order to make a real difference, and where we partner with all people of good will who have expressed their concern and generosity over recent months. Read more here
Return to previous page