Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Barahona (Agenzia Fides) - In a statement released yesterday, the group of representatives of the border dioceses of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, who met on March 21 to analyze common problems (see Fides 23/03/2017), stated that the Catholic Church remains committed to providing those services to undocumented migrants. This commitment is motivated by the communion with Pope Francis and his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2017.
The Bishop of the diocese of Barahona, His Exc. Mgr. Andrés Napoleón Romero Cárdenas, who hosted the meeting, read the document, and said: "Our Church has the mission to work for the welfare of the two peoples, the fight to preserve harmony and respect for the dignity of migrants, in particular of vulnerable children and the voiceless", who were at the center of the Pope’s message this year.
The Presidents of the Episcopal Commissions for the Pastoral Care of Migrants of the Bishops Conferences of the two countries, His Exc. Mgr. Launay Saturne (Haiti) and Diómedes Espinal de Leon (RD), pointed out that, even though they are two different countries they are one Church, and such commitment does not enter the political field but is a service to our brothers, because we are all children of God.
The document sent to Fides expresses the firm hope of the Bishops and the local Church that both President Danilo Medina Sánchez (RD), and Jovenel Moïse, fulfill their election promises, so the people of Haiti will not have to emigrate in search of better living conditions and the country will manage to eradicate impunity, corruption and other social problems. Another important commitment is linked to the teaching in schools run by the Catholic Church, always in the perspective of reception and support to migrants. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 24/03/2017)
