From yesterday's newspaper, The Sunday Times. Sunday, 3rd May 2009
"Losing Our Humanity" -- Christian Peregin
[Bro. Gwann Xerri has received hate mail from fellow priests for his views on immigration. He says Malta's recent stand-off with Italy over the fate of a boatload of immigrants thew him into a moral dilemma, and yet the country's leaders were categorial about being "morally" correct. He spoke about his fears of living in a country that is losing its humanity.
"How can we say we're morally correct on this issue and then be scandalised when a woman commits an abortion? Why are we so quick to demand that the woman raises every child she conceives even if this is a burden for her, but so silent when it comes to the lives of African immigrants? Is it because this time it is we who have to share the burden?"
The 62-year-old Dominican priest spent almost 30 years working as a parish priest in Brazil, and only came back to Malta for good last year, after a stint of six years working in the general council in Rome.
During his time traveling around Latin America he was an activist for social justice, peace and workers' rights, and despite heavy opposition, he was never afraid to fight for a just cause.
But now, as he sits in the secure surroundings of his convent in Valletta, there is fear in his eyes.
"Many people advised me to avoid this interview because we are living at a time when speaking out for the weak can result in dire consequences like heated quarrels with family and friends. I've received hate mail for my views on immigration, even from fellow priests," he confesses....
The incident where 153 immigrants were left in a watery limbo as Italy and Malta argued over who should take them in moved him to tears and made him fear for his own safety and that of his soul.
Bro. Xerri was much happier last Thursday when Malta decided to take in the 66 immigrants the army had rescued even though it had been deceived by Italy. He said Malta went by the book this time, because it was dealing with the diplomatic aspect after ensuring that lives were not lost. "It scares me when we use words like 'burden' and when we leave people stranded at sea while we try to gain political mileage. I am scared because I wonder if I could ever be seen as a burden. I've never been economically productive!"
Bro. Xerri adds that many people have been seriously attacked for helping or speaking out for immigrants, and to his knowledge, no one had yet been brought to justice for these acts of "terrorism".
He is not afraid to say that the political and social discourse being used towards black migrants in Malta is on the same lines as the Nazis used towards the Jews.
"It frightens me because I know I am no better than any Nazi. I too can get caught up in this way of thinking. I need to struggle not to let it happen, because if I do, I will suffer as well. As a country we will suffer greatly if we lose our humanity."
Bro. Xerri was saddened to see his country become strong with the weak rather than with the strong. He says he had never seen the government or the opposition take such forceful action on big corporations, contractors or those who committed tax fraud.
Another thing he cannot understand is why those who rejoiced the fall of the Berlin Wall are now asking for a similar wall to be built by Libya to stop immigrants from leaving. But does this mean he feels immigration is not a problem?...
"Europe went to Africa to exploit it, and we called it discovery, civilisation and democratisation. Now the migrants are coming here to beg for work, and we call it an invasion. It hurts me especially when I hear young people speaking the way they do about foreigners. I keep wondering, where did we go so wrong?"
Bro. Xerri pauses and comes to a realisation that makes his body quiver, his voice tremble, and his bloodshot eyes well up with tears.
"One day we will look back, and as we did with the Nazis, we will ask ourselves: how did we let this happen?"
What hurts him most is that as soon as someone expresses solidarity with immigrants, he is labelled anti-patriotic, anti-Maltese army or even pro-immigrant. "That does not make any sense. Immigrants are not a football team or a village band. If anything, we are pro-life.
"There are a lot of people who have been silenced but are working with the migrants. I know people who give donations on the sole condition that they can remain anonymous."
Bro. Xerri says he was very intimidated the first time he walked into an open centre, but only because he was conditioned to be afraid of immigrants because of the way everyone was talking.
Now he does not worry about having to walk through Marsa at night the way many other people seem to. He says those who are most fearful and hateful are the ones who have never spoken to an immigrant, and only go by the demonising descriptions they have read or heard.
"Some people think I am crazy because I am not afraid to go with friends to the Marsa open centre and eat with immigrants. They warn me that the immigrants want to turn Malta into a Muslim country. They do not realise that many immigrants are Christians and Catholics just like us, fleeing persecution. There is so much ignorance and misinformation. I just hope we are not too late," he says.
He adds that many Muslims also face discrimination and persecution in their own countries because of human rights violations and unjust laws and practices. Many emigrate because they long to live within a human rights framework, the kind Europe promises to uphold and urges others to follow. So what can we do?
"We can regain our humanity. We can realise that if we're going to act this way with immigrants we have no right to take a fake moral high ground by speaking against things like abortion, homosexuality, divorce and unmarried mothers....
Bro. Xerri says Malta had a lot to learn from its own history. The Maltese have always lived in fear of being invaded or swallowed up by something larger. But the progress the country has seen since independence is testimony to the fact that solutions can be found. He recalls that it was only recently that the Maltese themselves felt they needed to leave the country to find a better life, and were encouraged to do so....
"We need to help Africa help itself. It is not sustainable for all the able-bodied Africans to simply come to Europe. But this is a cycle. Africans living in Europe will send money back to their families, and the situation will improve in their own countries. It will take a long time, and we need to do our bit too. But eventually I believe the situation will improve."
According to Bro. Xerri, the only step forward is to sit down together, control our fears, and use initiatives to understand each other, like US churches have done by organising friendly meetings between members and immigrants, legal or not. He says some schools in Malta already do this with "hopeful success", but many people are still resistant to such activities.
"I am hopeful that this problem is not beyond us. I cannot claim to have solutions because I am still grappling in the darkness of faith. All I know is that the problem cannot be solved by fear or hate. We need to use our imagination."]
Thank you, Brother Xerri for speaking. We appreciate your words. Thank you all, for reading. Love, Audrey
I have hope that people will be kind, welcoming and gentle with him. I also have hope that as he is granted permission to leave Malta, the system is slowly but surely allowing these determined people to seek peace. All they want is a place to call home. I wish him safe travels.
Thank you for teaching me, world.
