The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has called upon the nation to be more welcoming to immigrants.
During his midnight mass on Christmas Eve the Cardinal said that while he understood the need for immigration control, immigrants themselves often face undeserved hostility.
He said, "Most immigrants come to our country because they wish to have a better life and work so as to provide for their families. What concerns me at the moment is our attitude as a nation to these many immigrants.
"Many of these people are trying, for perfectly good reasons, to enter Britain and they need to be welcomed. I understand that immigration needs to be controlled. However, sometimes they must feel like Joseph when he returned to Bethlehem after exile in Egypt, simply excluded because they are outsiders," reports the BBC.
During his Christmas Homily, broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said that the celebration of Christ's birth was for everyone.
He said that Christians should make sure that, "nothing and nobody remains untouched by the tidings of comfort and joy that came from heaven on the first Christmas night".
Most Popular
Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Myanmar Christians face dual crisis of earthquake and marginalisation
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar last week has intensified the hardship faced by the country’s religious minorities, plunging already vulnerable Christian communities into deeper crisis and displacement.
Jerusalem bishop calls for 'courageous' leadership to bring peace
A bishop from Jerusalem has told of the plight of ordinary people in the West Bank.
Three hospitalised as Islamist attacks Christian festival in Iraq
An apparent lone Islamist hospitalised three people at a Christian festival
What Netflix’s Adolescence teaches us about faith and the need for a digital detox
Social media was created to connect and entertain. But over time, its dark side has become impossible to ignore.