Bridging the Gap between Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis: The Catholic Church's Concern for Migrants. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alva, Reginald
• Is Part Of: Transformation. Volume 34:Number 1(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Church -- justice -- migration -- social concern; Christian ethics -- Periodicals; Church and social problems -- Periodicals; 261.105
• DOI: 10.1177/0265378815602041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-3788

Abstract

Migration is a global phenomenon. An essential part of the mission of the Catholic Church is to love Christ particularly in the poor and the weak, which includes migrants. The Magisterium of the Church has consistently stressed reaching out to migrants. However, issuing documents would mean nothing if Christians do not implement them in letter and spirit. Christian charity would be meaningless if it remains only as a part of orthodoxy without orthopraxis. The phenomenal rise in global migration has created unfavorable conditions for many migrants. The Church being an 'expert in humanity' has a great task to reach out to the least in the society. 1 In this article, we shall examine the role of the Catholic Church in bridging the gap between the orthodoxy and orthopraxis in their mission for migrants. We shall base our study on the documents of the Church and actual cases of migrant ministry in the Church.