San Diego bishop condemns Trump's Mexico wall after border visit

San Diego's Bishop Robert McElroy hit out at Donald Trump's visit to the Mexican border earlier this week, where the president displayed several prototypes for his controversial border wall.

Trump presented his wall models during a visit to southern California on Tuesday, his first trip to the Democrat-leaning state as president. He reiterated his commitment to the wall, championed its superiority to current border measures, and called on Congress to provide $18 billion to fund the structure.

'If you don't have a wall system, we're not going to have a country,' Trump said standing in front of the 30ft mock-ups, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

A woman is seen next to a section of the wall separating Mexico and the United States, as photographed from Playas Tijuana, in Tijuana, Mexico, October 6, 2016. The words on the wall read, 'You're on my side?' Reuters

McElroy said in a statement, in reaction to Trump's visit: 'It is a sad day for our country when we trade the majestic, hope-filled symbolism of the Statue of Liberty for an ineffective and grotesque wall which both displays and inflames the ethnic and cultural divisions that have long been the underside of our national history.'

He added: 'Our faith is in the God who is the Father of us all, and who urges us to see Jesus himself in the immigrants and refugees who seek safety and freedom.'

McElroy's condemnation stands alongside widespread antagonism to the wall project from US Catholic leaders and from Pope Francis too. The pontiff, whose politics have frequently clashed with the president, famously said: 'A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.'

News
More people are going to church than before the pandemic
More people are going to church than before the pandemic

Evangelical churches up and down the country are reporting an increase in the number of people exploring faith and finding Jesus.

Dean of Coventry travels to Berlin for joint VE Day commemoration
Dean of Coventry travels to Berlin for joint VE Day commemoration

The Dean of Coventry, the Very Rev John Witcombe, journeyed to Berlin this week to take part in a national service of remembrance for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. 

Churches unite in celebration of VE Day 80th Anniversary
Churches unite in celebration of VE Day 80th Anniversary

Churches throughout England are marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with nationwide commemorative events on Thursday.

Black smoke ends first day of papal conclave
Black smoke ends first day of papal conclave

A ballot has been held on the first day of the papal conclave but not yielded a new pope.