The Illegal Migration Bill will now become law after a series of votes in the House of Lords failed to result in further modern slavery protections and child detention limits.

Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Paul McAleenan, says the Church will continue to ‘love the stranger’ and call for the expansion of safe routes for those fleeing their homes:

“This legislation stands at odds with the teaching of the Church on welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating refugees.
“Refugees are human beings made in the image and likeness of God, not a political problem to be solved. We must never make recognition of people’s dignity dependent upon where they come from or how they reach our country. The biblical call to love the stranger is unequivocal and indiscriminate.

“As a Church, we will continue to welcome those seeking sanctuary here and call for the expansion of safe routes. We urge our government to redouble its efforts to tackle factors such as conflict, persecution, and climate change that force people to flee their homes.”

Recent Posts

  • PORTSMOUTH’s two bishops have issued a statement on immigration and asylum in the wake of protests outside a Southsea hotel. The Rt Rev Jonathan Frost, Church of England Bishop of [...]

  • The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency’s (CSSA) are inviting everyone engaged with the Catholic Church, including Clergy, Religious (Consecrated Life), Parish Safeguarding Ministers, Employees, Volunteers and Parishioners to contribute their [...]

  • Catholic Primary Schools in Portsmouth collaborated with the Portsmouth Music Hub last term on a Pilgrims of Hope Song Project. The idea of the song project was to help [...]

  • “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in [...]