II Meeting of European OFM-JPIC
II Encuentro de Europeo OFM-JPIC
18-23 Oct 2004, Santiago de Compostela

On this day the proposals which were the fruit of the work of the different commissions and conferences were voted upon.

Accompaniment of Refugees, Emigrants, Displaced Persons:

• Create a structure in the JPIC Office in Rome to care for the refugees
• Increase the awareness between the Provinces and Conferences so that they take care of the refugees.
• Be in contact with FI-Geneva and with the new office in Brussels to work together with respect to refugees, emigrants and displaced persons.

Active Nonviolence:

Active Nonviolence requires suitable preparation therefore it is requested that we be in contact with organizations who work in the subject, like: "Asociación Paloma" (www.operazionecolomba.org).

Report of the Trans-Alps (Germany, Holland, Austria, Hungry, Switzerland, Belgium and France) language group:

The Europe of the future has to be a Europe of all European inhabitants and countries, not just of the European Union and the new member states. The following aspects characterize Europe:

1. In the political area: the question about maintaining the nation states and the size of its units (tension between native identity and foreign, alienating influences)
2. In the economic field: consequences of neo-liberalism and the issue of rich and poor. A change of the concept of the human being and unemployment.
3. In the socio-cultural realm: Individualization and pluralization and an increase in de-Christianization (religion is relegated to the private realm). There is fear of overlapping and loss of native identity because of the influence of foreign cultures and religions.

We experience Europe as a disrupted continent, ruptures between East and West (Iron Curtain). The acceptance today of Turkey in the EU represents a similar challenge for Europe as the confrontation between Islam (the moors in early Spain) and Christianity. As Franciscans we see our task in living in the zones of rupture. For this we have identified three small impulses:

1. Cross over the borders of rupture: in other words, cross over the frontiers of disruption and rupture and change our own perspective.
2. The foreign view: Invite people of others cultures and religions to look at our reality from their point of view and share about this with all sides involved.
3. Search for truth: Since knowledge is power and can be misused as an ideology and a weapon, we feel obliged to inform ourselves and acquire competence, so that we can take part in a real dialogue. We have to learn, that "two truth" may exist when two cultures (ethnic groups, religions) coexist in the same place.

In order to achieve competent dialogue we think the following steps are necessary:

1. Perceive what is actually there and verify ones own point of view.
2. Make a clear option. Toleration and dialogue does not mean to act at whim, but implies responsible commitment. Dialogue should never serve to stabilize the status quo, but lead to change.
3. The inside way into our order. The above mentioned rupture points exist likewise within our convents. We need to convince our brothers and have constant dialogue with them.
4. The outside way. Cooperation with other organizations and integration into the social movement in Europe is necessary. We think that a Franciscan presence in the cities of decision making of political European institutions like Brussels and Strasbourg makes sense.

The issue of migration and refugees bears special weight for Franciscan work in Europe, as well as the intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. We should also be concerned about social issues of economy and bioethics.