Schönborn says the Iron Curtain is back

The Swiss-based Council representing Europe’s Catholic bishops has urged the different countries of Europe to find their own individual solutions to the migrant crisis, prompting the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Schönborn, to say that “the Iron Curtain is back”.

The EU, heavily influenced by Germany, has ordered its member states to take in quotas of migrants and refugees after more than one million arrived from the Middle East, Afghanistan and North Africa last year, with no signs that the influx is abating in 2016. East European countries in particular have resisted this edict.

The Council of Catholic Episcopates of Europe (CCEE) praised church communities for “responding positively” to the plight of refugees, but warned that each country must also find “diversified solutions”.
Following Pope Francis’ invitation and in the light of the urgent needs of migrants and refugees, the Church in Europe has shown “great openness and developed practical ways to welcome the stranger”, said the CCEE, which includes bishops’ conferences from 45 countries east and west. “The specific situation of every European country calls for tailor-made solutions affordable for every single country, which need to be built on solidarity and responsibility.”

At a press conference in the Vatican on 18 January, connected with preparations for the World Apostolic Congress of Mercy (Wacom), which will take place in Rome from 31 March to 4 April, the Wacom president Cardinal Schönborn cautioned against each European country withdrawing within its own border and fortifying its frontiers as a result of the continuing influx of migrants.

“The Iron Curtain is back again – even if in a different form,” Schönborn observed. “We must not forget the religious wars that caused Europe to shed blood and tears for centuries. Now we are faced by the challenge of immigrants from outside Europe. It is a great challenge and the danger is that everyone will withdraw to within their own borders. Frontiers, barriers and walls are coming back.”

It was crucial to overcome new nationalisms and to practise love of one’s neighbour and mercy, he emphasised. Criticising the CCEE, the cardinal said: “The European bishops have failed to find and proclaim a common word of encouragement. The Council has also failed to analyse the problems in the Middle East and in Africa that are causing this [migrant] drama in Europe.”

n Cologne Cathedral is to close after morning services during the coming carnival season following a spate of attacks on women outside on New Year’s Eve by gangs of men of North African or Arab appearance. The dean, Robert Kleine, called for more police “and more civil courage”.

The revelation that the cathedral was exposed to targeted shelling with fireworks during Mass on New Year’s Eve has further shocked Germans. Interviewed on 13 January in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Barbara Schock-Werner, the former cathedral architect, who with thousands of others attended the 6.30 p.m. Mass, said that soon after the start “One rocket after the other hit above all the northern window so that it was brilliantly illuminated in a fiery red. We could not hear Mass being said for the noise.”