Pope's Words Inspire Long Island Catholics To Open Arms To Arab, Asian Refugees
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- France and Britain have both pledged to take in thousands of refugees and Germany has already accepted many too who survived the dangerous journey to get there.
But as CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, the growing migrant crisis has touched the New York area as well.
Bells tolled at St. Agnes Cathedral as Long Island Catholics received word from the Vatican.
Pope Francis has urged the world to open its arms to Arab and Asian migrants and refugees who are 'fleeing death' from civil war or hunger.
"As a Catholic we are so happy that the Pope has made that commitment before the world, and that the world has been able to listen to his message. We love the Pope," Gloria Montealegre said.
"And to love one another means that the refugees are special people in need, that we are supposed to help," Rev. German Villabon, St. Agnes Cathedral said.
Many said their eyes are now open to the crisis as video pours in showing the agony of nearly 3,000 perishing, many of them women and children who drowned int he sea crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa.
"See the children, dead bodies in the water, it's heartbreaking. Doesn't matter which religious group they are, they are trying to survive in the world," Sridhar Rathnam said.
Rahtnam is Hindu, but said despite religious differences, Muslim asylum seekers need immediate aide.
Congressman Peter King agreed, but urged caution as well.
"The reality is, when you have ISIS and AlQaeda in Syria, we have no way of knowing which of these refugees are real, which are followers of ISIS and Al Qaeda. There is no intelligence on the ground," he said.
Middle Eastern immigrants said vetting is fair, and so is giving their relatives a chance at a new life.
"We are praying for them every day to get them the good life," Ufuk Cetin Kaya said.
The president of the Islamic Center of Long Island said the solution is healing.
"Just to see that welcoming all over Europe and here, and just how people are gracious and kind and basically that is what religion is," Isma Chaudhry said.
After the Pope called this a biblical movement of refugees that demands a global response local community and religious leaders began fundraising and in some cases offering their homes.
The International Organization for Migration said nearly 365,000 migrants have arrived in Europe so far this year.
