What we hear about immigrants... Myth and Facts
They steal our jobs, but only 4% of the workforce in South Africa are international migrants
MiWORK Report, 2012
They over-populate our country, but only 3.1% of our general population is made up of foreign nationals
2011 Census
They raise crime levels, but only 4% of the 112,467 sentenced prisoners are foreign nationals.
Leonie Wagner, Business Day April 2014
They dominate the informal sector, but 2 out of 10 people who own a business in the informal sector are cross-border migrants
Dr Sally Peberdy, Gauteng city-region observatory report
Migration must be stopped, but migration is an irreversible fact. Our task is to manage migration justly and in so doing contribute to the greater cohesion of the global community
What we can do as a Parish community...
According to our Christian Faith immigrants are not outsiders but sons and daughters of God. The Bible asks us to welcome them and the Church asks us to take care of them. Parishes can:
Raise awareness and talk about xenophobia in our parishes
Listen to their stories, allow them to listen to us Make all our parishes truly Catholic by being open and welcoming to all
Become a church without frontiers and Mother to all
Celebrate Heritage Day for all people in SA not just for South Africans
Tackle prejudice in ourselves and challenge prejudice when we hear it from others
Don't be satisfied with prejudicial attitudes, talk to immigrants and find out more from them
- Reject violence of any kind (Call the Police on 10111 when you witness violence against anyone in our communities, including immigrants)
- A parish should be the laboratory where differences are respected and promoted
What the Bible says...
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.
Leviticus 19:33-34
You shall also love the stranger because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19
I was a stranger and you invited me in.
Matthew 25:35
Sundays