Fr Barrios: EU bishops
promoting human dignity in Brussels
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| Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto in the Paul VI Hall |
Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto, the new Secretary General of
COMECE, says European Bishops are working to put human dignity at the forefront
of policy decisions in Brussels.
By Devin Watkins
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European
Union (COMECE) represents the Catholic Church and her concerns to EU
policymakers.
Father Manuel Barrios, whose 4-year mandate began on
September 1st, laid out several of those important issues in an
interview with Vatican Radio.
“One of the main challenges is that human dignity – the
dignity of every person – is respected and promoted,” said Fr Barrios.
Pope Francis always brings up this topic in his speeches, he
said, so COMECE strives to “promote the dignity of every human person.”
Fr Barrios said other important issues – like migration,
ecology, and youth unemployment – are related to human dignity.
Defending migrants
Migration is a hot-button topic in the European Union, and
Fr Barrios says the Church’s defense of human dignity extends “to those persons
who are coming to our borders asking for help.”
He said EU Bishops are seeking to put into practice Pope
Francis’ call “to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate” migrants.
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on
September 29th, with the theme “It is not just about migrants.”
Fr Barrios said part of the Catholic Church’ mission is to
promote the dignity of every human person, as European leaders make policy
decisions regarding the migration crisis.
The Church, he said, voices her support for “the need to
receive with generosity and to be able to integrate and give a future” to migrants
and refugees.
New narrative of hope
Asked about divisions in Europe, Fr Barrios said the project
of a united Europe is “still valid and followed by a lot of people.”
The Catholic Church, he said, is committed to “trying to
help the European project and helping EU institutions go forward in this.”
“I think there is hope,” said Fr Barrios, “but maybe we need
a new narrative of hope”.
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