By Paschal Norbert
LONDON, APRIL 26, 2024 (CISA) – “We retain deep misgivings about the Safety of Rwanda Bill, passed in Parliament last night, for the precedent it sets at home and for other countries in how we respond to the most vulnerable. This includes victims of modern slavery and children wrongly assessed as adults, whom we have a duty to protect,” said the Church leaders in Great Britain voicing their opposition to the controversial Safety of Rwanda Bill, which will relocate asylum seekers crossing to the UK to Rwanda on April 23.
In a joint statement signed by Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW), Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, and Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun among other Church leaders in England, the faith leaders denounced the legislation passed by UK’s parliament on April 22 as a violation of human dignity.
The joint statement with leaders of the Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion, Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Churches, paid tribute to individuals and entities who “live out Jesus’s call to feed and clothe the poor, and to welcome the stranger, through their work with asylum seekers and refugees, at times in the face of opposition and prejudice.”
The Church leaders noted with concern the rise in hostility towards people seeking refuge in the UK while also stating that the treatment of the refugees and asylum seekers in the islands has been used as “political football” with the efforts of the Church vilified for political milestones.
“We are disappointed that the kindness and support offered by churches and charities to the people at the heart of this debate – those fleeing war, persecution and violence trying to find a place of safety – has been unjustly maligned by some for political reasons,” said the leaders.
In the statement, they explained “In their response to the tragic attack in Clapham earlier this year, some former Home Office ministers, MPs and other commentators sought to portray churches and clergy as deliberately facilitating false asylum claims. It was for this reason, at the request of Anglican leaders, that representatives of our Churches met the Home Secretary in February. When asked, neither he nor officials could provide evidence to support the allegations of widespread abuse. Home Office Ministers have since confirmed this in a written parliamentary answer, and on questioning by the Home Affairs Select Committee. Follow-up meetings have since been agreed to promote closer cooperation and co-working between the churches and the Home Office.”
The Church leaders reiterated that they will support a system that shows compassion, justice, transparency and speed in its decisions while also respecting the dignity of life.
“There may be differences between our churches and Government on the means by which our asylum system can be fair, effective and respecting of human dignity, but we do agree that borders must be managed and that vulnerable people need protection from people smugglers. We have pledged to continue to work with the Home Office, and we do so in good faith,” they said.
According to the UK Home Office, the Safety of Rwanda Bill will “prevent legal challenges from being used to delay or halt a person’s removal to Rwanda on the grounds that Rwanda is generally unsafe, or that an individual will be returned to an unsafe country after removal to Rwanda – an act known as refoulement.”
The bill described by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as “a landmark legislation,” and “a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration,” is part of the UK government’s plans to stop the boats and tackle illegal migration into the country.
