The Catholic Church is the latest organisation to come out in support of a campaign to end the detention of families seeking sanctuary in Britain. It follows in the footsteps of other major denominations in backing the Citizens for Sanctuary pledge. The pledge warns that Britain’s history of providing sanctuary to people in difficulty is being threatened by the rise of extremist politics, ‘media scare stories’ and Home Office failings. It asks politicians to support policies aimed at ending the detention of children and families for immigration reasons, and not to ‘demean’ those seeking sanctuary in Britain. It goes on to ask politicians to preserve the UK’s legacy of providing refuge for victims of persecution and promote a ‘culture of sanctuary’ by helping the public to understand why it is important to offer a safe haven. Catholic Bishop for Migrants, Patrick Lynch, urged politicians to back the pledge.
Pray: for the persecuted and displaced people who seek sanctuary with us that they may find a compassionate helping hand. (Na.1:7)