Folia Theologica et Canonica 9. 31/23 (2020)
Sacra theologia
38 MIHÁLY KRÁNITZ European churches, European Christianity need to be reinvigorated. The bell is now ringing for us in our home. Ecumenism has a future because the churches can act together in the fields of faith and morals. We must courageously represent Christian faith and morals, even if regarded at present as ‘old-fashioned’, in the fields of family, nation and people living together. The Church has his own social teaching, which can serve as guideline for acting. From a Catholic part, it is Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato si’ on care for our common home.8 A testimony is necessary for the new generation living in the digital world. This generation does not often find its own homeland, people or family. We can provide social welfare for the newcomers, even until the end of their lives, because our economic power allows us to. But we must regard the person, too, who comes from a certain nation and tradition - what do we give them? Of course, we must take ‘manipulation’ into account, because many take financial advantage on human trafficking when they tear out the young generation from their environment and mislead them with false promises. Nothing is dear to them, not even the lives lost in the Mediterranean. One thing is important: their victims, whom they ‘launch’ in deplorable boats, should pay. These people are uprooted from their traditions, families, nation and their own folk and in the European abundant societies bum out, become lonely and are often ousted to ghettos, because the receiving country is only outwardly receiving. What is real humaneness for us Christians? Christ was also a wanderer. Together with his disciples he put himself under the care of benevolent people. “It is the spirit that gives life” teaches Jesus.9 Can we give spirit to the newcomers? Carrying food to their own place of birth might as well be solved. But weapon production is a bigger business. Pope Francis openly protests against this.10 Let us now pose the question of what migrants give us, as they are asked by nobody: What would you like? Why have you left your homeland? Why are mostly men coming as migrants? Why are strong, energetic people leaving their countries, leaving women and parents behind? 8 http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-franoesco_20150524_ enciclica-laudato-si.html (04.08.2018). 9 Jn 6:63. 10 “It’s hypocritical to speak of peace while fueling the arms trade, which only serves the ‘merchants of death,’ exacerbating wars not fought to ‘solve a problem’ but to benefit the weapons industry.” https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/06/03/pope-franciss-prayer-stop-merchants-death/ .
