Take in refugees at Christmas, bishops urge

THE government's controversial Asylum Bill has prompted a group of 30 church leaders, including five Catholic bishops to urge Christians to pay particular attention to the needs of refugees as Christmas approaches.
The statement, issued through the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland and signed by Bishop Mario Conti of Aberdeen, Bishop Patrick Kelly of Salford, Bishop Leo McCartie of Northampton, and auxiliaries Philip Pargeter of Birmingham and Kevin O'Connor of Liverpool, reminds Christians that Jesus' own family were refugees when they fled from King Herod.
"To become a refugee can be a terrifying experience and we are deeply disturbed at the association by some in our society of asylumseeking with deception," they say.
Individuals and parishes are urged to find out whether there are any refugees living locally and, if so, to offer them some hospitality over Christmas.
Cardinal Basil Hume and Dr George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, have already voiced fears about the treatment of genuine asylum-seekers if the Asylum Bill, currently before Parliament, becomes law.