From the Revd Larry Wright
Sir, - Those bishops calling for more Syrian refugees to be
resettled in the UK (News,
5 December) are to be applauded, while the response of our
Government is lamented. In the face of such an overwhelming
humanitarian crisis, however, passionate calls for government
action might be more credible if the Church offered to be part of
the solution.
State resistance to welcoming more refugees (from anywhere) is
affected by current political considerations, and the additional
strain that they will put on local services such as education,
medical care, and - the most vital and scarce - housing. Those of
us - and there are many - who have worked with and accommodated
asylum-seekers and refugees over the years can testify to the
effectiveness of such hospitality as a means of restoring dignity
and hope.
I suggest the Bishops appeal to their dioceses for people to
register their willingness to house a Syrian refugee family. Once
registered, potential hosts can be linked to the many excellent
refugee agencies working in our regions for advice and guidance in
the event that a refugee family is allocated. I believe that such
an appeal would elicit a generous response, which the Bishops could
then take to the Government.
In this season of Advent, rather than berate the Government for
offering "no room in the inn", let the Church be the alternative
"stable". I am willing to be one of the first to register as a
host.
LARRY WRIGHT
100 Bridge Street West
Birmingham B19 2YX
