Bishop Patrick Lynch (Auxiliary in Southwark) has marked the 96th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sunday, 17th January 2010, by insisting that

‘A human being’s worth is defined and determined by their God given dignity, not by the papers they do or do not carry.’

The bishop, who is responsible for the Office of Migration and Refugee Policy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, echoes the focus of the Holy Father’s message for the day – the plight of underage migrants and refugees.

Bishop Patrick said: ‘the care for migrant families especially women with children in detention was both a pastoral and policy challenge’.

He said that raising the plight of families in detention especially women with children by disseminating information on their human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as providing pastoral support was one way of trying to ensure their protection.

‘At the heart of Catholic Social Teaching is the principle that every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ and is therefore invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. This fundamental principle shapes our ministry with migrants – forced or unforced, documented or undocumented. A migrant’s legal status is quite separate from his or her human dignity. A human being’s worth is defined and determined by their God given dignity not by the papers they do or do not carry.’

He added that every effort should be made to end child detention while their families await decisions on their claim for sanctuary in the UK.