Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has described the British government’s plan to send some asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda as being ‘the opposite of the nature of God’.
In his Easter sermon, Welby said Christ’s resurrection was not the time for ‘subcontracting our responsibilities’, according to the BBC.
He also called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and spoke of his concern over the cost of living crisis.
The British government has said the plan for asylum seekers is needed to protect refugees from people smugglers.
Under the £120m scheme – which was announced this week – people deemed to have entered the UK unlawfully will be transported to the east African country, where they will be allowed to apply for the right to settle.
The BBC says the plan has faced widespread opposition, with more than 160 charities and campaign groups urging ministers to scrap what they described as a ‘cruel’ policy. It has also been criticised by opposition parties and some Conservatives.
Speaking at Canterbury Cathedral on Easter Sunday, the Archbishop said there were ‘serious ethical questions about sending asylum seekers overseas’.
He added: ‘The details are for politics and politicians. The principle must stand the judgment of God, and it cannot… And it cannot carry the weight of our national responsibility as a country formed by Christian values; because sub-contracting out our responsibilities, even to a country that seeks to do well like Rwanda, is the opposite of the nature of God, who himself took responsibility for our failures.’
The BBC says the Home Office defended the plan after the archbishop’s criticisms, saying the UK has a ‘proud history’ of supporting those in need, and resettlement programmes have provided ‘safe and legal routes to better futures’ for hundreds of thousands.
‘However, the world is facing a global migration crisis on an unprecedented scale and change is needed to prevent vile people-smugglers putting people’s lives at risk and to fix the broken global asylum system,’ a spokesperson was quoted as saying.
The Home Office said Rwanda is ‘safe and secure’ and will process claims in accordance with international human rights laws.