Sir, – The insightful report from 21 NGOs, Protection, Resettlement and Integration, illustrating Ireland's inadequate response to the refugee crisis, is most welcome ("Ireland should take in 22,000 refugees, say agencies", December 7th).
Tragically among the many European accents there is the voice of an inn-keeper with an Irish brogue passing on the news that there is “no room at the inn” this Christmas. The institutional notion of justice that is presently at the heart of European and Irish policy is at odds with the original roots and meaning of the term justice that lie at the heart of Europe’s Christian foundations. The scope of this great tradition tells us that justice walks hand in hand with and is guided by mercy. Is it no wonder that Pope Francis has highlighted mercy as the core theme for this Holy Year? – Yours, etc,
Fr ALAN HILLIARD,
Chaplain,
DIT Bolton Street,
Dublin 1.
