杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

The Vatican on Tuesday presented guidelines for the Church鈥檚 response to the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). A new booklet from the of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development identifies 鈥渘ew challenges posed by the present global scenario鈥� and suggests 鈥渁dequate pastoral responses鈥�.

鈥溾�� (POIDP) is intended 鈥渢o provide a series of key considerations that may be useful鈥� in pastoral planning and programme development for the effective assistance of IDPs鈥�. It offers 鈥渟uggestions and guidance for action based on four words: welcome, protect, promote, and integrate鈥�.  杏MAP导航 Francis has these verbs with respect to migrants and refugees.

In separate sections corresponding to these four verbs, the booklet notes challenges facing IDPs and considers how the Church is being called to respond to those challenges.

Welcome

The Pastoral Orientations recognizes the complex situation of internally displaced persons. It especially notes that they are often forgotten by society at large and calls for the Church to raise awareness about the issue.

Acknowledging that host communities are often in precarious situations themselves, it calls on 鈥渁ll actors鈥� to promote 鈥渁 balanced and comprehensive approach to humanitarian aid鈥� for the benefit of both IDPs and the communities that receive them.

Protect

The Section for Migrants and Refugees notes that IDPs 鈥渁re often displaced for the same reasons as refugees and have similar protection needs鈥�. However, because they have not crossed international borders, they do not have the same rights or legal status under international law.

The document notes, too, that national authorities, which have 鈥渢he primary responsibility for their protection needs 鈥� are sometimes unwilling or unable鈥� to provide for them. It calls on the Church to advocate for clear regulations 鈥渇or the protection of IDPs at the local, national, and international level鈥�.

It also calls for special care for IDPs who are most vulnerable, including people fleeing from war, abused women and children, child soldiers, and disabled persons, as well as members of ethnic groups that face discrimination.

Promote

The Church is also called to promote the material and spiritual needs of IDPs. With regard to temporal wellbeing, members of displaced communities should be aided so they can participate fully in the social and economic life of their host communities. In this regard, education and medical care are of particular importance.

While many organisations attempt to meet material needs, the religious and spiritual welfare of IDPs can sometimes be neglected. The new document notes that this spiritual dimension 鈥渋s essential to the integral human development that is supposed to be the goal of every programme addressing IDPs鈥�.

In particular, the Document calls on local bishops 鈥渢o adopt specific pastoral structures and programmes addressing IDPs鈥� material and spiritual needs鈥�.

Integrate

Concerning the integration of internally displaced persons in new communities, the Section for Migrants and Refugees calls for responsible parties to seek durable solutions.

Emergency camps, the document notes, 鈥渁re a temporary solution and are not a substitute for adequate housing鈥�. Attempts to provide for long-term, durable solutions must involve all stakeholders.

Specifically, the Document raises the issue of integration, which is often difficult both for IDPs and host communities. Here the Church is called to provide both groups 鈥渨ith guidance and support to promote authentic integration鈥�. This should recognise the rights and responsibilities of all involved, especially the mutual benefits that can accrue to both the displaced persons and the communities that welcome them.

Cooperation

The Section for Migrants and Refugees emphasises the need for 鈥渏oint work and coordination鈥� among all parties involved in assisting IDPs. It calls for cooperation among Catholic pastoral actors, especially under the leadership of local bishops.

The Document also encourages Catholics to promote ecumenical and interreligious cooperation, and cooperation with other actors concerned in caring for IDPs. It adds, however, that 鈥渢he missions and objectives of partner organizations must be compatible with the vocation and doctrine of the Catholic Church鈥�.

Catholic organizations are invited to share data and information with other organizations involved in aiding IDPs.  鈥淭he mutual exchange of knowledge and information is key to providing an effective response,鈥� the Document says.

Building a fairer, more inclusive society

The Document concludes turning once again to 杏MAP导航 Francis. In his for the 105^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the 杏MAP导航 says that the four verbs 鈥� welcome, protect, promote, integrate 鈥� 鈥渄escribe the Church鈥檚 mission to all those living in the existential peripheries鈥�.

Applying these words to all vulnerable persons 鈥渙n the move鈥�, including IDPs, 鈥渃ontributes and helps all of us to build a fairer, more inclusive society, where the integral human development of all its members is promoted鈥�.

Practical suggestions

In a final section, the Migrant and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development offers suggestions as to how to use the new document. Specifically, it suggests using the pastoral orientations in information and awareness campaigns; distributing the new booklet and other relevant Church documents to NGOs and civil society groups; and entering into dialogue with government officials responsible for IDPs.

It also invites those involved in aiding IDPs to share their experiences and offer feedback on how the pastoral orientations are implemented, and on how they are received by governments and by civil society.

The full text of "Pastoral Orientations on Internally Displaced Persons", with supporting documents as well as updates and reflections, can be found by clicking here: