Paul KeenanAn Irish priest specialising in migration issues has described racism as “a sign of an unhealthy society” in the wake of the bleak figures for Ireland in terms of racist incidents.
As a report from the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) revealed that the latter half of 2015 showed an 11% increase in incidents over the first six months of that year, Fr Alan Hilliard, former director of Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants said the 165 cited cases reflected what Pope Francis has previously described as the ‘politics of indifference’ to migrants and others in society.
Denouncing racism as “based on ignorance”, Fr Hilliard called for “a greater growth in understanding” of others and insisted that integration is “a two way thing”, something everyone in Ireland must come to understand.
Acknowledging that there will always be those in any society who prey on those with no voice, Fr Hilliard nevertheless insisted that migration is a reality that is not about to change.
“In a globalised world,” he said, “migration and change are part of our future.”
Breakdown
Fr Hilliard acknowledged also that in recent years “part of what’s going on in the world is a breakdown of the social system of care. People are more insecure. But this does not justify racism.”
Referencing one recent message from Pope Francis at World Youth Day, Fr Hilliard said that “the purpose of engagement with those on the margins is to change us” and he called for “a greater growth in understanding” of others. “Too much of our empathy is burned up on the likes of Facebook,” he said.
The ENAR report for 2015 revealed that of the 165 racist incidents in the final six months of the year, 25 were incidences of assault, 41 were of repeated harassment, and one involved rape.
The report can be read at http://enarireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/iReport_910_Final.pdf