Photo: Flickr / Matt Brown
London Church leaders have written to the UK Government, on 9 March 2022, urging it to expand sponsorship to all Ukrainian refugees on humanitarian grounds, allowing them to enter the UK as quickly as possible.
The letter was written following the meeting of London Church Leaders at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Homily Family to pray with Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski and his people.
“We are encouraged by the government’s family sponsorship programme and welcome the intention to establish a pathway to humanitarian sponsorship.
“As the number of Ukrainian citizens seeking shelter outside the borders of Ukraine is estimated to reach close to two million, we cannot but emphasise the urgency to act swiftly and without delay…
“…We would ask that sponsorship not be limited to those with family members in the UK, but that those sponsorship criteria be expanded to include all Ukrainian refugees on humanitarian grounds, allowing them to enter the UK as quickly as possible.”
Those signing were:
- Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
- Archbishop Nikitas, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain
- Bishop Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark
- Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of London
- Rev Phil Barnard, Team Leader London Baptist Association
- Rev Dr Jongikaya Zihle, Methodist Conference
- Revd George Watt, Moderator URC Thames North
- Lt Colonel David Shakespeare, Salvation Army
- Les Isaac OBE, President of the Ascension Trust
- Andy Frost, Moderator of Free Churches Group Jesus International
- Bishop Lynne Cullens, Bishop of Barking
- Rev Msgr Kevin Hale, Vicar General Diocese of Brentwood
- Ven Elwin Crockett, Archdeacon of West Ham
- The Ven Luke Miller, Archdeacon of London
For the full statement, please see the Diocese of Westminster website.
The Sanctuary Foundation, working with Reset Communities and Refugees, is asking individuals, community groups, churches, schools and businesses to register their interest in becoming a sponsor for when a Government scheme has been developed.
