The Cry of the Sea

          The violence at sea in the Mediterranean as African migrants attempted to reach Italy is a cause for alarm.  The plight of those murdered at sea is a call for world attention to the injustices caused by human trafficking and social injustices in all forms.  We, as a World Community, must respond to this growing crisis.

              Religious identification is often a convenient excuse for violence against others.  It tends to cover up the real injustices that cause people to resort to violence.   The Interfaith Communities should respond powerfully and forcefully:

 1)  It is essential to discover the root causes of migration in the first place,

2)  Religious leaders must invite their communities to reconsider how their understanding of their own religion might foster violence against and intolerance of other people,

3)  Diverse Religious leaders and Communities must manifest a public protest against all forms of violence based on religious, gender, economic, and racial lines,

4)  Our worshipping Communities must raise their awareness of the plight of so many migrants throughout the World in the manner of their worship and prayer together.

        People have a human right to migrate for the sake of their health and well-being.  Families have a right to be together in a place of safety and opportunity.  This crisis affords us the opportunity to recognize that all of us constitute one human family.  We are responsible for one another.

        The Interfaith Peace Project applauds and supports all those organizations and individual persons who come to the aid of migrants searching for a better life.  We will continue to monitor the situation as we implore you to become more and more aware of this important issue.

        More information and practical outreach can be found by contacting:

The International Organization for Migrants
www.iom.int

Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
with The Board of Directors