A ‘small number’ of asylum seeker conversions may not be real, says bishop

The Bishop of Chelmsford has said that it’s “very difficult” to know if a conversion to Christianity is real, no matter whether the person is from the UK or not.

Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani appeared on the BBC Sunday Programme to debate claims that the Church of England has been complicit in asylum seekers gaming the system with fake conversions. 

She said that “inevitably” there could be “a small variety of cases” of individuals attempting to “scam us”, but that preparation for baptism was “very rigorous” and that some people even abandon it since it takes too long. 

“We take seriously our responsibilities, but we also know that as Christians, our primary responsibility is considered one of welcome and hospitality and support and teaching, but we want to do this in a way that’s that is smart and, and is aware that occasionally there are individuals who might try to scam us,” she said. 

The bishop, who got here to Britain as a refugee from Iran, said she was open to a review of the Church of England’s current guidance for vicars around conversion, but added that there could never be complete certainty. 

“It’s very difficult to look into the hearts of individuals ever and be 100 per cent. And that goes for whether that person is from Britain or an immigrant from elsewhere,” she said. 

“But we absolutely advise clergy to do the very best they will. And I feel what’s happening here is that inevitably there will likely be a small variety of cases.” 

Later within the discussion she said that the onus was on clergy to “be as confident as they possibly will be” that a candidate for baptism is sincere and understands what it means. 

“Preparation is generally very rigorous and that is right and proper. I feel, God forbid, you do take that seriously no matter where persons are coming from. It’s just that ultimately, it’s unattainable to prove 100 per cent,” she said. 

“But we do have this guidance and we do make it very clear that clergy have to be as confident as they possibly will be that those searching for baptism fully understand what it signifies.

“As we have heard already, some people fall away from the system in the event that they try to scam it because they realise it’s taking longer than they’d ideally like.”

However, she said it was “unsuitable” that spotlight was being focused on “a really small number” of alleged abuses because “it’s diverting attention away from the systemic problems, which is that we’ve an immigration system that is overwhelmed and inefficient”.