Berkley Center

This curricular module introduces the role of religious communities in refugee resettlement and explores the ethical imperative to aid forced migrants. Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J., charts an ethical and religious framework for action on the global refugee crisis in a 2016 article on “Borders and Duties to the Displaced: Ethical Perspectives on the Refugee Protection System” [PDF]. He provided further reflection on the intersections of religion and refugee resettlement as part of a panel [YouTube] in the November 2019 conference on “Current Challenges in Refugee Policy.” 

Below, you can explore more resources on normative approaches to religion and the refugee crisis, including an expanded module guide, with additional materials on ethical principles in policymaking and faith in the lives of refugees and humanitarian workers on the ground.

These materials are designed to engage students with the following issues:

• normative traditions of various faiths which inspire and guide action taken by individuals and faith communities in response to the refugee crisis [2014 Hollenbach article, PDF; 2020 Hollenbach article, open access; 2020 Hollenbach article, PDF]
• roles of ethical principles and “negative” and “positive” duties in inspiring action in response to forced migration [2018 Hollenbach article, PDF; 2019 Hollenbach article, PDF; “Humanity in Crisis,” event video]
• faith in the lives of refugees and humanitarian workers on the ground [Kidwai essay, Berkley Forum; Loughry essay, Berkley Forum]

Instructors are encouraged to look through resources below [videos/PDFs/articles] and adapt these questions to their needs.