Refugees urged to learn German values

The bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Gebhard Fürst, has published an open letter to refugees appealing to them to “learn, value and observe” the values and fundamental orientations of German society in order to enable them to become integrated, writes Christa Pongratz-Lippitt.

 The letter was published in German, Arabic, English and French on the World Day for Migrants and Refugees on 15 January. Fürst explained that German society was founded on fundamental values “that we will not give up”. Even if German society seemed to be mostly secular today, its depiction of people and their inalienable dignity was founded on Christian fundamentals. “These humane fundamental orientations shape our co-existence, promote our togetherness and obligate us to hospitality. I would therefore like to ask you to learn, value and observe them. That includes the recognition of our constitution and our laws as well as the equality between men and women,” Fürst underlined.

He encouraged refugees to become active in German society, pointing out how crucial it is for them to learn German “as a common language is an important contribution for mutual understanding”. In order to make a success of integration, they, too, have a contribution to make, because Germans “have expectations of those who come to us in need and wish to remain”.

He was worried about “the flash points in our mutual home”, he said, and hoped refugees would agree with him that “when hate-filled perpetrators of violence in the name of Islam” called for terrorist deeds, allowed them or even carried them out, they forfeited their right to remain in Germany.

Meanwhile the Polish branch of the Catholic charity Caritas has launched a new project for assisting refugees and migrants amid an increase in xenophobic attacks on foreigners in the country, writes Josef Pazderka. A new mobile app in English, Arabic and Russian called “First steps in Poland” was prepared by Polish Caritas along with the country’s Office for Foreigners. It tells newcomers how to legalise their stay , how the welfare system works, what medical care is available and what rights employees have in Poland.