1. The Extent, Nature and Circumstances of the Emigration from Ireland and the Work of the Catholic Social Welfare Bureau for Irish Catholic Emigrants.
- Author
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Gray, H.
- Subjects
- *
CATHOLICS , *EMIGRATION & immigration , *CHURCH work with immigrants , *ASSIMILATION (Sociology) - Abstract
This article examines the work which has been done for Irish Catholic emigrants and how far that work in its ultimate development can be expected to play a successful part in fulfilling the church's requirements in relation to emigrants so far as Ireland is concerned. Ireland's population which totalled 8,175,00 in 1747 and 6,522,000 in 1841 had fallen to 4,229,000 in 1926. The pattern of overseas emigration from Ireland since 1925 has been broadly similar but the preponderance of emigration to the U.S. has lessened. In consequence the Irish immigrant though instinctively actuated by Catholic principles is unprepared to combat the insidious arguments against Christian teaching which one will inevitably meet in a new environment. There is in Great Britain no language problem to hinder absorption of the emigrant into the receiving community and indeed the pattern of material life in the two countries is also somewhat similar, further aid towards ready absorption. The Catholic Social Welfare Bureau for Irish Emigrants uses its influence to secure improvements affecting the welfare of groups of emigrants and of the generality of emigrants but is has throughout its existence regarded its real mission as being to the individual emigrant and the main body of its work is conducted on the basis of individual care of the welfare of each emigrant. Limitations of the service given to emigrants are that financial assistance is not given and that the bureau does not engage in recruitment for employment.
- Published
- 1956
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