Evening star., 1955-06-26

Church groups are pressing
hard for Q solution Of the refugee
problem on all fronts-the Far
East. the Middle East and
Europe.
Since World War II. displaced
persons have become one Of the
major social concerns Of relig-
ious agencies. They have persist
emily refused to let the problem
be ignored by governments and
public opinion. Churches have
become the conscience of man
kind on the plight of refugees.
One indication of the scope of
church work is the announce
ment that Lutheran Churches
have assisted more than 3 mil
lion refugees. helping 100000 Of
these to migrate to the United
States, Canada, Australia, South
America and South Africa.
The figures were given In
Minneapolis last week by Or. Carl
E. Lund- -Quist. Geneva, Switzer-
land, executive secretary of the
Lutheran World Federation. He
said 20 million Of the worlds 70
million Lutherans 'live under
the shadow Of totalitarianism Of
one kind or another"
Seek Broader Refugee Law
American church groups, which
have been hammering away for
months at the slow administra-
ton Of the 1853 Refugee Relief
Act, are now seeking a broaden
ing Of the law.
Several top church spokesmen
testified before Q Senate Judi
ciary subcommittee during the
past week. They strongly urged
such changes. They included
DR.. Paul c. Empie, New York,
executive director Of the Ma
ttonal Lutheran Council; Roland
Elliott. New York, director Of
immigration services for Church
World Service, and Msgr. John
O'Grady. Washington, executive
secretary Of the National Con-
ference Of Catholic Charities.
The officials agreed on most
changes. All of them want
churches and religious agencies
to be allowed to file blanket as
surances for groups of refugees
without having to obtain an in
dividual sponsor for each.
All asked for a modification of
the harsh" security provisions
Of the 1853 act.
Security Clearance Urged
DR.. Empie suggested that refu-
gees be given the same security
clearance as ordinary applicants
for quota visas. He said this
would eliminate hardships caused
by the requirement that refu-
gee must prove all his activities
and associations for the past two
years.
Msgr. O'Grady said it was un-
reasonable to expect such docu-
mentary evidence from people
who have escaped from behind
the Iron Curtain.
The religious spokesmen also
asked consideration for special
groups Of refugees. Msgr.
O'Grady urged that provisions
be made for Communist
refugees now in Africa who were
overlooked when the act was
adopted.
DR.. Empie proposed that a
special quota of 1000 be estab-
lished for members of refugee
families suffering from tubercu-
losis or other ailments that
might otherwise bar them from
emigrating. He also urged that
aged. dependent parents be
treated with the same consider
alton as minor children.
Mr.. Elliott suggested a read
justment Of quotas for Greece
to aid victims Of recent earth
quakes there.
Refugees From Red China
In Geneva, Switzerland, church
officials in Geneva centered at
tention on the problem of refu-
gees In and from Communist
China.
It was disclosed that the World
Council Of Churches and the
Lutheran World Federation hold
resettlement visas for 5,308 Euro
pean refugees in China who are
unable to get exit permits from
Chinese Communist authorities.
In South Vietnam, Roman
Catholic groups are continuing
the immense task of aiding the
more than 800, 900 refugees from
the Communist-controlled north
ern part Of the country. From
30 to IS per cent of these are
Catholics.
Church World Service, relief