French bishop: think again about refugees after destruction of camp in Calais

October 31, 2016

A French bishop has supported the decision to demolish a migrant camp in Calais, but called for a “change of mentality” regarding refugees.

Bishop Jean-Paul Jaeger of Arras said that the French government had no choice but to break up the seedy refugee camp in Calais—known as “the Jungle” because of its lawlessness—becaues of the “unhealthiness and the precarious subsistence conditions” in which refugees were living.

However, after about 8,000 people were evicted from the camp, and bulldozers levelled the shelters that had sprung up there, Bishop Jaeger said that the people of France should think about what would become of the refugees. “Their departure from our seaboard can and must be accompanied by increased respect—especially toward minors, single women, and people in poor health,” he said.

 

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Further information:

• French bishop: Demolition of Calais Jungle necessary, but change of mentality towards refugees needed (Catholic Herald)