Nordic Catholic bishops have warned that migration can lead to serious problems when newcomers are not successfully integrated, while cautioning against border policies that make it harder for refugees and asylum seekers to find protection.
In a joint pastoral letter published on 24 October, the Catholic bishops of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden say migration policies must reflect the ability of each country to support integration. At the same time, they insist that people in need must not be treated unjustly.
Integration without forced assimilation
The bishops say migrants have a responsibility to respect the laws and cultural heritage of their new country and to take part in society. They warn that newcomers who isolate themselves from the wider community can contribute to tensions, but emphasise that integration must not require people to abandon their own heritage.
Migrants are to be encouraged to integrate but not subjected to forced assimilation.
They argue that receiving more migrants than a country can integrate effectively may create social problems, which in turn can lead governments to introduce increasingly restrictive immigration policies.
Closed borders can also harm people seeking protection
But the bishops are equally concerned about the tendency in parts of Europe to close borders. They warn that tighter restrictions can make entry almost impossible even for refugees and asylum seekers covered by international protection rules.
The letter also criticises the idea of removing people who are already well integrated and make valuable contributions to their communities. It rejects narrow-minded nationalism and says public debate about immigration has become harsher and less nuanced, warning that aggressive rhetoric can become a form of manipulation.
The letter was signed by Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, president of the Nordic Bishops’ Conference, and five other bishops, including Bishop Fredrik Hansen of Oslo and Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm.
Parishes as places of integration
The bishops describe Catholic parishes across the Nordic region as places where people from different backgrounds meet. They point to religious services offered in several languages and practical help for newcomers navigating local bureaucracy and unfamiliar social norms.
In their letter, entitled The Earth Is Our Common Home, the bishops acknowledge the limits of reception systems but insist that protecting vulnerable people must remain part of the response to migration.
