Vatican document says church fails to defend Gypsies from prejudice

Published: 2006-02-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Despite movements to protect minorities and to value other cultures, civil society and even the Catholic Church often fail to defend Gypsy communities from blatant prejudice and discrimination, a new Vatican document said. "From habitual prejudices to signs of rejection," Gypsies still suffer exclusion and expulsion, "often without any reaction or protest from those who witness them," said the document from the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers. The council's "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of Gypsies" was released at a Feb. 28 Vatican press conference. Msgr. Bruno Nicolini, who coordinates pastoral work among Gypsies in the Diocese of Rome, said the document provides ideas and norms for ministry, "but it will be more difficult to change the ideas of the people of God. It will take longer than establishing specific pastoral projects because people have to be convinced that we can live together."

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