THE Archbishops of Canterbury and York, along with other UK church leaders, have expressed “deep misgivings” concerning the passing of the Safety of Rwanda Bill this week. They have deplored the “unjust maligning” — for political gain — of churches which have supported refugees.
The Bill, which was passed by each Houses of Parliament shortly after midnight on Tuesday, is anticipated to receive Royal Assent in the approaching days. For the aim of deterring illegal immigration, it determines that the Republic of Rwanda is “a protected third country, thereby enabling the removal of individuals who arrive within the UK under the Immigration Acts”.
In a joint statement on Tuesday — also signed by the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, and representatives of the Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, and United Reformed Churches — the Archbishops write that the Bill sets a “precedent at home and for other countries in how we reply to probably the most vulnerable. This includes victims of contemporary slavery and youngsters wrongly assessed as adults, whom now we have an obligation to guard.”
It expresses gratitude for the continued refugee work undertaken by churches and charities “within the face of opposition and prejudice”, and expresses “sadness and concern” on the “rise in hostility towards those that come to those islands looking for refuge, and the best way through which the treatment of the refugee and asylum-seeker has been used as a political football.”
The statement continues: “We are dissatisfied that the kindness and support offered by churches and charities to the people at the guts of this debate — those fleeing war, persecution, and violence trying to search out a spot of safety — has been unjustly maligned by some for political reasons.”
The church leaders specifically denounce the portrayal by former Home Office ministers and MPs of “churches and clergy as deliberately facilitating false asylum claims”. The statement says that officials had since provided “no evidence” of those claims.
The church leaders conclude by acknowledging the deaths of 5 people, including a baby, who drowned attempting to cross the Channel from France on Tuesday morning. “Like so many on this country, we seek to support a system that shows compassion, justice, transparency, and speed in its decisions. We grieve the appalling lack of life within the Channel today.
“There could also be differences between our churches and Government on the means by which our asylum system will be fair, effective, and respecting of human dignity, but we do agree that borders have to be managed, and that vulnerable people need protection from people smugglers. We have pledged to proceed to work with the Home Office, and we accomplish that in good faith.”
The UNHCR has also expressed concern concerning the precedent set by the Rwanda Bill. Responding on Tuesday, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the Government “to reconsider its plan to transfer asylum-seekers to Rwanda and as an alternative to take practical measures to handle irregular flows of refugees and migrants, based on international co-operation and respect for international human rights law.” The latest Bill was, they repeated, in breach of the Refugee Convention.
The full statement:
We retain deep misgivings concerning the Safety of Rwanda Bill, passed in Parliament last night, for the precedent it sets at home and for other countries in how we reply to probably the most vulnerable. This includes victims of contemporary slavery and youngsters wrongly assessed as adults, whom now we have an obligation to guard.
As leaders in Christian churches we wish to specific our profound gratitude to those that 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 within the face of opposition and prejudice.
We note with sadness and concern the rise in hostility towards those that come to those islands looking for refuge and the best way through which the treatment of the refugee and asylum seeker has been used as a political football.
We are dissatisfied that the kindness and support offered by churches and charities to the people at the guts of this debate – those fleeing war, persecution and violence trying to search out a spot of safety – has been unjustly maligned by some for political reasons.
In their response to the tragic attack in Clapham earlier this yr, some former Home Office ministers, MPs and other commentators sought to portray churches and clergy as deliberately facilitating false asylum claims. It was for that reason, on 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 advertise closer co-operation and co-working between the churches and the Home Office.
Like so many on this country, we seek to support a system that shows compassion, justice, transparency, and speed in its decisions. We grieve the appalling lack of life within the Channel today.
There could also be differences between our churches and Government on the means by which our asylum system will be fair, effective and respecting of human dignity, but we do agree that borders have to be managed and that vulnerable people need protection from people smugglers. We have pledged to proceed to work with the Home Office, and we accomplish that in good faith.
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell
Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun
Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain
Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, United Reformed Church General Assembly Moderator
Revd Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference
