Indifference to migrants is unacceptable, Pope tells Dominican Republic bishops
A batey, or sugar workers' town, set up for Haitian immigrant laborers in the Dominican Republic, March 13, 2011. Credit: John Wood via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0). Vatican City, Jun 1, 2015 / 12:08 am ( CNA/EWTN News ) .- The Church in the Dominican Republic cannot be indifferent to the plight of Haitian immigrants, Pope Francis said last week during a meeting with the Dominican Republic's Catholic bishops. “Pastoral and charitable attention to immigrants, especially those from neighboring Haiti, who seek better conditions of life in the Dominican territory, cannot allow indifference on the part of pastor's of the Church,”the Pope said May 27 to the bishops who were in Rome for their ad limina visit. “It is inexcusable to fail to promote initiatives of fraternity and peace between the two nations that form this beautiful Caribbean island.” The Dominican Republic has a long history of anti-Haitian sentiment, though a recent spike in tension is likely due to a contentious 2013 Dom...