Speech by Minister Mary White T.D., at the launch of the Irish Churches' Affirmations on Migration, Diversity and Interculturalism
21/06/2010
Venue: Civic Offices, Dublin City Council
11am, 21st June 2010------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to start by thanking Adrian Cristea from the Parish-Based Integration Project for the invitation to be here this morning. I would also like to thank the previous speakers for their insightful thoughts and messages of openness to members of new communities.
Immigration has brought great diversity to many areas of life in Ireland, not least to our spiritual and faith - based communities, where it has increased many congregation sizes and given them a new vibrancy. And while the high numbers of migrants partaking in services is reflective of the increased number of migrants living in our society more generally, it is also a reflection of the fact that many of those who have come to our shores come from deeply religious backgrounds and want to partake fully in spiritual devotions here.
For this reason, our faith communities are uniquely placed to reach out to newcomers in their congregations to provide emotional and spiritual support, promote involvement in the wider community, and ultimately help in creating a more inclusive society.
In producing this resource document, the Inter-Church Committee have shown that they recognise their role in the integration process and that they value cultural and ethnic diversity and the importance of key values such as respect, hospitality, openness and equality in creating an inclusive society.
I was particularly impressed by the ten Affirmations, which have been endorsed by the 15 members of the Inter-church Meeting. I would like to speak briefly about some of these Affirmations.
Firstly, I want to acknowledge the call to churches to explore and adopt ways of worship, systems of administration and other structures so that they fully respond to and reflect Church membership. This Affirmation represents a recognition that the membership of churches is changing and becoming more diverse and it acknowledges that all areas of the work of Churches should reflect this diversity.
The Affirmations also recognise the importance of defending the rights of all migrants in accordance with international and national laws, and standards on migration and calls on churches to advocate for the rights of migrants. As yesterday was World Refugee Day, I think that it is important to acknowledge the impact that many faith-based bodies have made to the lives of persons who have come to Ireland seeking protection or who have been accepted under refugee resettlement programmes. Faith-based groups have shown strong and forthright leadership and practical support to many of the most vulnerable of these people.
I think that advocacy is another area where faith-based groups have not been found wanting. I commend Churches on the work which they have done in carrying out evidence-based research, in highlighting matters of on-going concern with Government officials and working with local service providers to ensure that people have access to services to which they have an entitlement.
Another Affirmation seeks to reach out to established networks with migrant-led churches and chaplaincies. This is an area where I know the Irish Inter-Church Committee have been involved in the past, through their compilation of a Directory of Migrant- led Churches. I welcome this commitment to reaching out to these churches which are also ministering to the spiritual needs of newcomer communities. The importance of developing better knowledge, closer relationships and collaboration between the many churches, chaplaincies and religious groups cannot be over-emphasised.
I also welcome the fact that this document recognises the importance of intercultural dialogue and working with persons of different faiths and those who do not belong to any faith community. Religious divisions and separation can have a devastating impact on communities and can fuel religious hatred and mutual animosity and suspicion. It is only with open communication and ongoing contacts that we can build a society which promotes tolerance and a society where a person is recognised and respected because of who they are and where they are not treated with suspicion on the basis on their religious beliefs.
As many of you know, I have commenced the process of establishing a Ministerial Council on Integration which will advise me directly on issues affecting migrants. Persons from a migrant community who are legally resident in Ireland for two or more years, or who have acquired Irish citizenship may apply to be on this forum. I would like to have a wide representation of persons on this forum.
The Forum is an opportunity for individuals to have a voice in relation to their integration experiences and to help shape a better and more cohesive Ireland. I think that it is very important that there is a diverse representation on this Council, to ensure that the voices and perspectives of different groups of migrants can be heard.
As the closing date is fast approaching on the 7th of July, I would like to encourage anyone from a migrant background with an interest in integration to apply.
To conclude, Migration Nation, which was published by my Office and is a Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management identified the importance of faith-based communities in the integration process and also indicated that faith-based groups could receive financial assistance for this purpose. I am happy to say that my Office have been able to fund the Parish Integration Project in the past to engage a project worker and promote the practical integration of immigrants around parishes and local congregations. Through the commitment shared between churches to fellowship among people, they have made, and continue to make, a major contribution to developing a welcoming and cohesive society for our ‘new’ Irish.
I think that this document which I have been asked to launch here today sets out a very useful and worthwhile road map for faith-based groups and I acknowledge their value in promoting a shared sense of humanity and a recognition of the truly great contribution that migrants can make to our society.
I am happy to launch this resource document.
Thank you.
11am, 21st June 2010
I would like to start by thanking Adrian Cristea from the Parish-Based Integration Project for the invitation to be here this morning. I would also like to thank the previous speakers for their insightful thoughts and messages of openness to members of new communities.
Immigration has brought great diversity to many areas of life in Ireland, not least to our spiritual and faith - based communities, where it has increased many congregation sizes and given them a new vibrancy. And while the high numbers of migrants partaking in services is reflective of the increased number of migrants living in our society more generally, it is also a reflection of the fact that many of those who have come to our shores come from deeply religious backgrounds and want to partake fully in spiritual devotions here.
For this reason, our faith communities are uniquely placed to reach out to newcomers in their congregations to provide emotional and spiritual support, promote involvement in the wider community, and ultimately help in creating a more inclusive society.
In producing this resource document, the Inter-Church Committee have shown that they recognise their role in the integration process and that they value cultural and ethnic diversity and the importance of key values such as respect, hospitality, openness and equality in creating an inclusive society.
I was particularly impressed by the ten Affirmations, which have been endorsed by the 15 members of the Inter-church Meeting. I would like to speak briefly about some of these Affirmations.
Firstly, I want to acknowledge the call to churches to explore and adopt ways of worship, systems of administration and other structures so that they fully respond to and reflect Church membership. This Affirmation represents a recognition that the membership of churches is changing and becoming more diverse and it acknowledges that all areas of the work of Churches should reflect this diversity.
The Affirmations also recognise the importance of defending the rights of all migrants in accordance with international and national laws, and standards on migration and calls on churches to advocate for the rights of migrants. As yesterday was World Refugee Day, I think that it is important to acknowledge the impact that many faith-based bodies have made to the lives of persons who have come to Ireland seeking protection or who have been accepted under refugee resettlement programmes. Faith-based groups have shown strong and forthright leadership and practical support to many of the most vulnerable of these people.
I think that advocacy is another area where faith-based groups have not been found wanting. I commend Churches on the work which they have done in carrying out evidence-based research, in highlighting matters of on-going concern with Government officials and working with local service providers to ensure that people have access to services to which they have an entitlement.
Another Affirmation seeks to reach out to established networks with migrant-led churches and chaplaincies. This is an area where I know the Irish Inter-Church Committee have been involved in the past, through their compilation of a Directory of Migrant- led Churches. I welcome this commitment to reaching out to these churches which are also ministering to the spiritual needs of newcomer communities. The importance of developing better knowledge, closer relationships and collaboration between the many churches, chaplaincies and religious groups cannot be over-emphasised.
I also welcome the fact that this document recognises the importance of intercultural dialogue and working with persons of different faiths and those who do not belong to any faith community. Religious divisions and separation can have a devastating impact on communities and can fuel religious hatred and mutual animosity and suspicion. It is only with open communication and ongoing contacts that we can build a society which promotes tolerance and a society where a person is recognised and respected because of who they are and where they are not treated with suspicion on the basis on their religious beliefs.
As many of you know, I have commenced the process of establishing a Ministerial Council on Integration which will advise me directly on issues affecting migrants. Persons from a migrant community who are legally resident in Ireland for two or more years, or who have acquired Irish citizenship may apply to be on this forum. I would like to have a wide representation of persons on this forum.
The Forum is an opportunity for individuals to have a voice in relation to their integration experiences and to help shape a better and more cohesive Ireland. I think that it is very important that there is a diverse representation on this Council, to ensure that the voices and perspectives of different groups of migrants can be heard.
As the closing date is fast approaching on the 7th of July, I would like to encourage anyone from a migrant background with an interest in integration to apply.
To conclude, Migration Nation, which was published by my Office and is a Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management identified the importance of faith-based communities in the integration process and also indicated that faith-based groups could receive financial assistance for this purpose. I am happy to say that my Office have been able to fund the Parish Integration Project in the past to engage a project worker and promote the practical integration of immigrants around parishes and local congregations. Through the commitment shared between churches to fellowship among people, they have made, and continue to make, a major contribution to developing a welcoming and cohesive society for our ‘new’ Irish.
I think that this document which I have been asked to launch here today sets out a very useful and worthwhile road map for faith-based groups and I acknowledge their value in promoting a shared sense of humanity and a recognition of the truly great contribution that migrants can make to our society.
I am happy to launch this resource document.
Thank you.
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