Italian bishops warn that migrants' rights are at risk

The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the next World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 24 "reaffirms two fundamental rights," Migrantes, a foundation of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) said over the weekend.

The body noted that these rights have always been supported by the Social Doctrine of the Church: "the right to migrate and the right to live in one's own land. The two rights are based on the principles of freedom and universal destination of the goods that the Lord has created and destined to all of humanity."

'Walls, recrudescence of nationalisms, and laws against right to migrate'

"The right to migrate is stopped by walls erected, recrudescence of nationalisms, and laws that weaken the right to leave one's own land for those seeking work and support for their personal or family lives and for those fleeing wars, environmental disasters, and dictatorships," underscored the Italian bishops' foundation.

"The right to remain in one's own land is put at risk by numerous wars and conflicts underway, by new forms of colonialism, of the lack of equal opportunities for men and women, and from serious exploitation," Migrantes added.

Church resources to protect migrant rights

Migrantes noted that "since 2017, the Italian Church has put onto the field tens of millions of euros from the '8 per mille' [voluntary contribution made by Italian taxpayers to charitable organizations of their choice] to protect these two rights of people fleeing especially from Africa, carrying out develoment cooperation projects in collaboration with the Italian branch of Caritas, Migrantes, Missio and with collaboration from Focsiv and numerous other NGOs."

The Italian Church also runs a project called 'free to leave, free to stay' to support unaccompanied minors, the organization noted.

This is, it added, "an important signal amid weakness of development cooperation" more in general.