Prague, Sept 7 (CTK) – Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka welcomed Monday the initiative of Pope Francis who called on European parishes, religious organisations, monasteries and convents to look after at least one refugee family each.
Sobotka (senior government Social Democrats, CSSD) said he appreciated the churches’ willingness to participate in the integration of the refugees who would be granted asylum.
The Czech government presumes the involvement of religious organisations in the refugee crisis, he said in a press release Monday.
“In the tense times that Europe is facing now, I appreciate the statement by Pope Francis. I perceive his initiative as a significant message that helps decrease tension in society, Sobotka wrote.
“The appeal of Pope Francis is in harmony with the talks that the government has been leading with Czech churches since mid-July when I personally met the churches’ representatives to discuss this issue. The working group for migration headed by the Interior Ministry is preparing a concrete framework of this cooperation. It is to find the best ways of integrating the refugees who will be granted asylum in compliance with laws in Czech society and enable them to live a new decent life in the Czech Republic,” Sobotka added.
The Czech state is managing the current situation with refugees in an organised way, Tomas Holub, secretary of the Czech Bishops’ Conference (CBK) said.
“At the moment, the church aid is primarily focused on two levels – first, how to assist with state help the people who have applied for asylum in the Czech Republic as well as those who are only crossing its territory in a human manner. We are preparing for this,” he told CTK.
The other level of preparations focuses on the steps to be taken if such a huge wave of refugees as that in Hungary and Austria arrived in the Czech Republic, Holub said.
“This is what Pope Francis was speaking about. We are preparing for it internally, seeking a coordinated approach,” he added.
Some say Czech churches might find an inspiration in the neighbouring Germany where the church has long been involved in aid to refugees.
However, the situation in Germany is completely different, Holub said, pointing out a long-time experience with asylum seekers and a different position of the church in Germany.
Hundreds of thousands of immigrants arrive in Germany annually.
“The Czech Republic has never been a country of destination. There has been no need for a system of broader aid to those who would like to stay here. Not even Monday does this issue top the agenda in the Czech Republic,” he added.
There is the institute of church asylum in Germany that can be offered to those who would otherwise had to leave Germany since their asylum applications were rejected. In June, more than 300 churches in Germany provided shelter for 400 refugees on the basis of the church asylum rules.
The church facility that accepts the refugees submits their cases to the respective authority for reassessment. The process often ends successfully for the applicants.
Czech bishops offered the government to help accept refugee families in July. They at the same time said they were prepared to help them integrate in society and seek other possible forms of aid.
The offer is still valid, said CBK spokesman Frantisek Jemelka. However, he added, the form of aid is up to the decision by the Interior Ministry that is in charge of the refugee agenda in the country.
The Interior Ministry told CTK Monday that it had started closely cooperating with church institutions in accepting, taking care of and integrating refugees in the Czech Republic.
However, particular forms of cooperation will depend on the current needs and capacities of the Czech Republic, the ministry added.
The cooperation also concerns the resettlement programme within which the government promised to accept 400 refugees from third countries.
