HOLY SEE AT THE DURBAN CONFERENCE: RACISM IS A SIN

VATICAN CITY, SEP 4, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office in Geneva, gave a discourse on September 3 at the "World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance," being held in Durban, South Africa from August 31 to September 7, 2001.

Racism, said the permanent observer of the Holy See, is "a sin" and "fundamentally a lie, a concept deliberately invented to create division in humanity. This Conference must be about the truth: the truth concerning human dignity, the truth concerning the fundamental unity of the human family. This is a Conference about the ethical foundations of a new world community."

"The Holy See," he continued, "recognizes the irreplaceable contribution which the United Nations family has made and is making in addressing inequality and exclusion in today's world. This Conference, however, will hopefully mark a new and significant step in the efforts of the community of nations."

The eradication of racism, the archbishop emphasized, is not an easy process. "It requires," he said, "that we examine the reality of history, not in order to be trapped in the past, but to be able to begin honestly to construct a different future. Pope John Paul II has noted: 'One cannot remain a prisoner of the past: individuals and peoples need a sort of 'healing of memories'." For this healing it is necessary that "we honestly appraise our personal, community and national history and admit those less noble aspects which have contributed to marginalization today, but in such a way as to reinforce our desire to make the era of globalization an era of encounter, inclusion and solidarity."

Referring to the question of migrants and refugees, Archbishop Martin emphasized that the phenomenon of migration can be one which "generates prosperity, helps reduce global inequalities and enhances encounter among peoples and cultures. ... But, today the migrant, especially one who comes from a different cultural background, can easily become the object of racial discrimination, of intolerance, of exploitation and of violence."

He went on to point out "the fundamental role of education in the fight against racism. Such education," he said, "must begin in the family. ... The family must be the first school in which the roots of racist behavior are firmly rejected." He added that "mass media have a special responsibility to avoid any provocation of racism sentiments."

"In speaking of this Conference some days ago," Archbishop Martin continued, "Pope John Paul II made an appeal to all believers, noting that we cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any person, created in the image of God."

He affirmed that "true religious belief is absolutely incompatible with racist attitudes and racist practices."

In conclusion, Archbishop Martin expressed the desire that "one of the fruits of the Conference be the beginnings of a new broad, international cooperation between governments, civil society, religious groups and the mass media, as well as farseeing and courageous individuals, to work together to help construct a vision of humankind, which truly lives in unity. This is, in fact, God's design for the human family."

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