ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN ARCHBISHOP’S HOUSE, DRUMCONDRA ROAD LOWER, DUBLIN 9, D09 H4C2 • 01 8087500 Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini 12th August 2025 Dear Father, Deacon, Pastoral Worker, Chair of PPCs and all the faithful of the Archdiocese, The recent shocking attacks on members of the Indian community in Dublin have generated understandable fear and alarm among the Indian community. Sadly, racial abuse is not confined to members of that community but is part of the lived experience of far too many who have been singled out solely because of their skin colour. This affront to the human dignity of our neighbours and fellow citizens is completely unacceptable. It blights the lives of victims and diminishes us all as a people. While violent attacks are rare, casual abuse and mistreatment can have a corrosive effect. Such behaviour is even more reprehensible given the great contribution which so many from the Indian community and other minority communities are making to our country. For example, we are all familiar with the vital presence of Indian professionals in our healthcare system, without whom many healthcare needs simply could not be met. Others apply their skills in important sectors of the economy and also contribute to funding public services through their taxes. Apart from their working lives, many Indian families and families from other racial minorities are playing an increasingly important role in the parishes and school communities of our Archdiocese. Indian priests, religious and lay volunteers are an increasingly important presence in the pastoral life of the Church in Dublin. That gives the lie to the vile and blasphemous claims of some who spread the poison of racial hatred on social media that they are somehow protecting Christianity. It is time to stand up for justice and equality. It is time to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. It is time to stand up to those who seek to divide our community through rumour and malice. It is time to call out those who peddle racial hatred. It is clear to me from my visitation of the parishes of our Archdiocese that they and our school communities have already given a warm welcome to Indian families and others who have made their homes here. I am writing today to urge you to strengthen that spirit of solidarity and welcome. There are practical steps that we can take. The first is to express our solidarity and support directly to members of our parish communities from a racial minority background and encourage them to share their experiences. We need to extend this concern to engagement with families and groups in the wider community of which our parishes form part. We can encourage everyone to support the Gardaí in every possible way to confront and defeat those whose actions contribute to the fear now being experienced by the Indian community and others in Dublin. We can challenge the rumour and misinformation which can so easily become the backdrop to conversation and daily life in our communities. For that reason, I am asking the Chairs of our Parish Pastoral Councils to put the issue of solidarity and support on the agenda of their meetings so that it forms part of the programme of pastoral renewal, Building Hope, which each parish is called to implement. I ask Parish Pastoral Councils to be proactive in ensuring that their membership reflects the full diversity of our parish communities. I ask all parishes to review the steps which they are taking to encourage all sections of the faith community, whatever their background, to contribute their talents through voluntary service, such as through ministry of the Eucharist and of the Word and through membership of hospitality and liturgy teams, so that their inclusion in our communities of faith can be as complete as possible. It is right that we should give thanks to God for the gift of the service and witness of so many who enrich our community of faith through their presence. We may fittingly express our gratitude through the ministry of welcome, hospitality and solidarity to which every Christian is called. With kind regards, Yours sincerely, +Dermot Farrell Archbishop of Dublin