Jesuit refugee centre and Pedro Arrupe centre in Athens : religion bridging worlds and the challenge of immigration

Abstract

Immigration is a complex phenomenon which undeniably poses challenges to contemporaries societies. Immigrants may often face prejudices and discrimination from some members of the host community. Churches and religious leaders of Western countries are especially involved in welcoming migrants to their new environment and also in favouring an inclusion policy in host societies. Mind-sets of inclusive and welcoming contexts must be promoted as an essential factor in social existence, stability and peace, in a broad future vision of the common interest. Beyond any doubt, majority group’s religion can exert a notably positive effect on tolerance and acceptance of forcibly displaced people regardless of national boundaries. [extract]