Sir, - Rev Martin Clarke (communications officer, Irish Bishops' Conference), in response to a letter from Gordon McKenzie asking the Irish bishops for a definitive statement on racism, outlines clearly the bishops' significant contribution to the debate on refugees (January 1st/2nd).
That the bishops' obvious concern has not filtered down to any great extent to their people on the ground is evident from the results of a poll published in the January 5th edition of the Irish Independent which shows that over two thirds of those surveyed favour keeping the numbers of refugees accepted to an absolute minimum, with fewer than a quarter favouring an open-door policy.
Irish people have been quick to respond generously to crises of need in the Third World and elsewhere. Now that victims of such crises with more long-term needs are appearing on their doorsteps, they respond differently. There is a great need for leadership in this area if we are not to fail to meet the gospel challenge: "I was a stranger and you took me in" (Matt. 25:35).
That such leadership will come from the Government is doubtful in view of its treatment of refugees to date: "In a country which has had a higher emigration rate than most, the treatment of refugees has been unforgivable" (The Irish Times, Editorial, January 4th).
There is an urgent need for a debate on the bishops' policy document, Refugees and Asylum Seekers - A Challenge to Solidarity, to be initiated at parish level. This would ensure that whatever attitudes people adopt would spring from an informed background on the theological, social and moral levels, and might prevent vulnerable people from being even more damaged than they have already been. - Yours, etc., rosetta gray, RSM,
Mercy Justice Office, O'Connell Street, Limerick.