Vatican official says governments, church must work to help Gypsies

Published: 2008-01-23

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Governments and the Catholic Church need to work together to help lift Gypsies out of a life of poverty and discrimination, a Vatican official said. International organizations and governments must respect the rights and dignity of the world's Gypsies, Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, told participants of a European conference on Roma Gypsies. The term Gypsies is often used to identify the various communities that refer to themselves as Roma, Sinti, Manouches, Kale, Gitans and Yeniches. Nations must also make a commitment "to eradicate still widespread episodes of racism and xenophobia which lead to discrimination in (Gypsies') gaining employment, housing and having access to an education," he said in a Jan. 23 speech. The council sent Catholic News Service a copy of the address. The Italian government's Ministry of the Interior sponsored the Jan. 22-23 conference in Rome, which brought together government leaders, scholars and church representatives.

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