Father Higgins backed latest UK Government moves to accept refugees from
British-funded camps in Turkey.
Referring to Germany's huge commitment to accommodate refugees, he
said: "Germany does not have a military presence in the Middle East, so their
focus has been to welcome refugees arriving in their country.
"In contrast, Britain and the USA have a military presence in the Middle East
and some of their funding and effort have helped secure refugee camps. The
UK is spending more or less an equivalent sum to Germany."
Father Higgins, whose colleague Rev John Stevenson from Moffat, is
currently temporary priest-in-charge in Ankara, felt 'immense compassion' for
the refugees.
He described the Middle East situation as 'complicated beyond words' with
the roots of the conflict, including differences between Sunni and Shia
Muslims, stretching back many centuries.
But he also explained: "Contrary to popular opinion, with the exception of the
most fanatical and intolerant, they are not fighting over religion.
"Many innocent people are being caught up in the fighting due to
circumstances totally beyond their control."
He pointed out that Christians, who had a presence in the Middle East going
back many centuries, were among a number of minority groups at most risk
Father Higgins said: "Some of the oldest continuously used churches in the
world are in Syria and Iraq and many have now been destroyed by ISIS.
He said: "For many refugees, if they did not flee, they would most certainly
be killed.
"Europe means safety,
sanity and salvation for
Christian and Muslim alike.
In some ways it is a
compliment to our culture
and civilisation"
The UK has so far pledged
to accept 20,000 refugees
from Syria over the next
five years and the Scottish
Government has offered to
take at least 1000 as 'an
immediate priority.'
StOM Page 10