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"New forms of slavery can be observed, not only including the exploitation of women as prostitutes, but also of domestic workers or workers on construction sites," the document continued.

"Many migrants live among us without basic social rights or even without any rights at all."

The church document is expected to be discussed in mid-June by a European Parliament committee, and responded to by the EU Commission when formal consultations with NGOs close at the end of June.

Peschke said she believed the European Commission was "sincerely attempting" to consider independent views about policy and legislation, adding that the current Swedish presidency of the EU had "taken the churches' position seriously."

However, she added that the EU still lacked "open decision-making procedures." A parallel policy-making program for family reunifications had remained blocked in the Council of Ministers.

"Decisions are still taken anonymously, without majority voting, so it's difficult to gauge our influence," the CCME general secretary said. "Although there are signs of a growing EU openness to churches, not all countries concur that the churches' contribution is valuable."

The document follows numerous national church interventions on asylum and immigration issues. Among recent statements, bishops from COMECE said in April they were "extremely concerned" that many people with irregular status in the EU had become "victims of exploitation that denies their human dignity."

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

The European Union Online site includes a specific site for The European Commission.

Groups signing the papers for the European Commission with Web sites include the International Catholic Migration Commission, Jesuit Refugee Service, and the Quaker European Affairs Council.

The United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees official site has extensive statistics on migration and refugees.

Recent Christianity Today articles on church aid to refugees include:

Separation Anxiety | Haitian immigrants are less welcome than Cubans, but Florida churches are filling the hospitality gap.(April 24,2000)

Saving Bodies, Rescuing Souls | Chechen Muslims find Salvationist care has compassionate accent. (April 24, 2000)

In Sri Lanka's No Man's Land, Churches Provide Some Hope for Refugees | Christians mobilize to help nearly a million left homeless by Tamil conflict (April 18, 2000)

Church Aids Refugees Despite Violence | The Catholic church has been a place of refuge and reform for those opposing the Indonesian government. (October 25, 1999)

Churches Reach Out to Refugees | In many cases, the groups are relying on churches to help provide temporary housing, furniture, clothing, language training, and money for rent. (June 14, 1999)

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June (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45