ICC Note: Hundreds of thousands of Christians are among the more than four million Syrian refugees scattered around the region. There are particular concerns for Christians and other especially vulnerable Christian minorities, but there are also some false assumptions being made. It is important that our compassion and security concerns are understanding of the complexity of the problem.

12/19/2015 Syria (NY Times) – The debate concerning how best to provide asylum to Syrian refugees continues to polarize. It has been a relief to hear more thoughtful voices rising above the alarmist clamor. Prioritizing security is not incompatible with dispensing compassion, and the need to balance these two vital components inevitably makes any response more challenging, but why would we assume there could be simple responses to such complex problems?
Within Christian circles, a common theme across the debate is the assumption that priority should be given to Syrian Christian refugees. However, even on this point it is vital that we grapple with complexities if our compassion is to have integrity.
Let me highlight four common mistakes, with reflections based on what we are hearing from Syrian church leaders:
1. “We should use religion as a basis for selecting which refugees to accept.”
No, we should not! Most Syrian church leaders insist that Christians should not be given special treatment. Assigning refugee status or offering asylum must be done on the basis of vulnerability and need. To do otherwise not only violates international refugee and humanitarian law, but also the teachings of Christ. The Good Samaritan looked beyond religious and ethnic labels to show genuine neighborliness to the one in need.
Are there some Christian refugees who are particularly vulnerable? Undoubtedly – let us welcome them. Are there legitimate security concerns concerning some refugees? Of course, and appropriate safeguards must be put in place. However, let us be clear that we accept refugees on the basis of their need and exclude those deemed to be a security threat on the basis of evidence — not their religion.
“Christian refugees are the most vulnerable.”
Christians from some areas of Syria are certainly among the most vulnerable. Heinous atrocities targeting Christians and other religious minorities have been committed, especially by the Islamic State, or ISIS. Christian refugees who have fled from areas controlled by extremists have a strong case for asylum, based on vulnerability, but a balanced assessment must recognize two important factors.
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