Vatican official criticises fence plans for Mexican border
-15/11/06
A top Vatican offi
Vatican official criticises fence plans for Mexican border
-15/11/06
A top Vatican official has criticised a plan to build a fence along the Mexican border, branding it ‘inhumane’.
The comments from Cardinal Renato Martino came in a speech on Tuesday, on the Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
ìSpeaking of borders, I must unfortunately say that in a world that greeted the fall of the Berlin Wall with joy, new walls are being built between neighbourhood and neighbourhood, city and city, nation and nation,î said Cardinal Renato Martino, in presenting Pope Benedict XVIís message.
The comments come after criticism from other Christian denominations about the way that the U.S.-Mexico Border is policed.
Cardinal Martino also discussed child labour and forced prostitution, and according to the Reuters news agency was asked about President Bushís recent signing of legislation enabling the construction of a 700-mile border fence.
The cardinal, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, responded by praising Mexican and United States bishops who opposed the plan.
Plans for the fence served as a rallying point in American elections last week, with proponents calling it necessary to stem the tide of immigrants entering the country illegally.
Cardinal Martino also said human trafficking, specifically child labour and the forced prostitution of women, was worse now than the trade in African slaves of past centuries.
ìItís worse than the slavery of those who were taken from Africa and brought to other countries,î the cardinal said. ìIn a world which proclaims human rights left and right, letís see what it does about the rights of so many human beings which are not respected, but trampled.î
Speaking for the pope, Cardinal Martino also addressed the issue of the integration of Muslim immigrants in European countries. ìMuch still remains to be done,î he said, adding, ìIt is necessary to provide for legislative, juridical and social intervention to facilitate such an integration.î
Vatican official criticises fence plans for Mexican border
-15/11/06
A top Vatican official has criticised a plan to build a fence along the Mexican border, branding it ‘inhumane’.
The comments from Cardinal Renato Martino came in a speech on Tuesday, on the Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
ìSpeaking of borders, I must unfortunately say that in a world that greeted the fall of the Berlin Wall with joy, new walls are being built between neighbourhood and neighbourhood, city and city, nation and nation,î said Cardinal Renato Martino, in presenting Pope Benedict XVIís message.
The comments come after criticism from other Christian denominations about the way that the U.S.-Mexico Border is policed.
Cardinal Martino also discussed child labour and forced prostitution, and according to the Reuters news agency was asked about President Bushís recent signing of legislation enabling the construction of a 700-mile border fence.
The cardinal, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, responded by praising Mexican and United States bishops who opposed the plan.
Plans for the fence served as a rallying point in American elections last week, with proponents calling it necessary to stem the tide of immigrants entering the country illegally.
Cardinal Martino also said human trafficking, specifically child labour and the forced prostitution of women, was worse now than the trade in African slaves of past centuries.
ìItís worse than the slavery of those who were taken from Africa and brought to other countries,î the cardinal said. ìIn a world which proclaims human rights left and right, letís see what it does about the rights of so many human beings which are not respected, but trampled.î
Speaking for the pope, Cardinal Martino also addressed the issue of the integration of Muslim immigrants in European countries. ìMuch still remains to be done,î he said, adding, ìIt is necessary to provide for legislative, juridical and social intervention to facilitate such an integration.î