Churches vary in response to refugees

Europe’s refugee crisis has inspired faith communities across the continent to open their doors to the newcomers and advocate for more state and private help, but the urgency of their calls and the depth of the response varies from country to country.

Germany has been the most generous toward the refugees, many of them Syrian Muslims fleeing war and jihadist threats in their homeland. Christian leaders and others have welcomed refugees arriving by train in Munich, and churches around the country have joined local officials in feeding and housing them.

Hungary, where the government has built a fence along its southern border to keep refugees out, wants Christian refugees only. Catholic bishop Laszlo Kiss-Rigo was quoted as saying his country faced a Muslim invasion: “They come here with cries of ‘Allahu Akbar.’ They want to take over.”