Poles Fear Islam Invasion, Germans Welcome 10,000

Protestors rallied across several Polish cities Saturday, expressing their concerns that a wave of migrants from the Middle East will bring a flood of Islam and terrorism to their country.

The protests in the heavily Catholic nation come despite Pope Francis' urging that Catholics open their hearts and parishes to refugees.

Poles are struggling to heed that call amid widespread fears that Muslim arrivals will threaten their jobs and security.

The biggest rallies brought out right-wing demonstrators, marching against hosting asylum seekers.

About 10,000 of those protestors marched in the rain through downtown Warsaw, waving national white-and-red flags and chanting "Today refugees, tomorrow terrorists!" and "Poland, free of Islam!"

"The refugees are threat to our culture, they will not assimilate with our society," one 24-year-old marcher said.

Smaller rallies were held supporting helping the migrants. A few hundred people held a "Refugees, Welcome" rally at a different location in Warsaw.

Similar pro-con rallies were held in Gdansk, Krakow, Poznan and Szczecin.

The European Union wants Poland to accept 12,000 migrants.

Meanwhile, Germany continued to embrace its role as a defender of the refugees, welcoming at least 10,000 more asylum seekers into the country Saturday.

Germany over the past week has taken in more than 40,000 people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa - and a poll has suggested broad support for the government's course.

Still, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel says the sheer speed of arrivals was outpacing Germany's ability to provide emergency housing.

Gabriel says Germany needs its European Union partners to agree to host some of the newcomers.

Front-line aid workers say Germany is determined to meet the challenge and provide as warm a welcome as possible.

The country's biggest soccer club took the field Saturday with each player holding a newly arrived child by the hand. Some 75,000 fans roared their approval as many of the kids waved shyly back.