Last Wednesday the Pope launched a two-year campaign about the plight of migrants, designed to change the growing anti-migrant feeling in certain Western countries.
We all know that we are to welcome the stranger, and look after the man fallen among thieves, for we have all been brought up on the parable of the Good Samaritan. But this campaign for us all to be Good Samaritans seems ill-advised at this time. By campaigning for migrants, the Church will find itself campaigning against the supporters of Alternativ für Deutschland in Germany, the supporters of Donald Trump in America, and the supporters of all those political parties that have taken a stand against unrestricted migration. The Church will, however, find itself firmly allied to Angela Merkel.
Of course, the Church must alert people to the moral dimension of the migrant crisis, but it seems short-sighted, to say the least, to leap into a political debate firmly on one side. This may well have a negative effect, and many may see this as the Church interfering in politics and wish that the Church might “butt out”.
It is perfectly true that the Church has long campaigned against euthanasia and abortion, and it should continue to do so – but these are not party political issues. Migration is. The Church’s interventions on this should take that into account, to avoid alienating people on the other side.
As it is, the Pope’s campaign will spark further division. I am sure, for example, some people will ask this question: why does the Pope put pressure on America, Australia, and the nations of Europe to take migrants, but not countries like Saudi Arabia or the countries of Latin America?
It seems best to make a statement of general principle, and leave the specifics to one side. There are too many hostages to fortune involved in making detailed pronouncements now.