The Galilee Bell From Sanctuary to Asylum and Back - The Role of the Church

THE GALILEE BELL: From Sanctuary to Asylum and Back - The Role of the Church The aim is to demonstrate how the church has in the past and does today step in to maintain a human rights/ a compassionate approach to asylum when governments sacrifice it to political expediency - perhaps. It also shows the relationship between sanctuary and asylum as the obverse and reverse sides of the same coin. The operation of the privilege of sanctuary is illustrated by a series of Tales drawn from the records of early Persian Kings, the Bible, Greece, Rome under Constantine thence to England between the 12th and 16th centuries and covering a cross-section of people, their occupations and stations in life. It then examines the role of the church in the present day in asylum claims.. The main church of sanctuary featured in the tales is Beverley Minister in Yorkshire which, due to its popularity, drew sanctuary seekers from all parts of the country. Statement of AIMS To encourage rethinks to asylum policies To maintain the church's role through sanctuary in modern times To illustrate why sanctuary, is still alive after its interment 500 years ago How a greater knowledge of the historical background encourages a sympathetic approach to the gates of refugees and those internally displaced today "core message" - , Compassion with understanding and fairness pays off. The work should be of a general appeal\l and stimulate debate in immigration and ecclesiastical disciplines. It is not funded and I am unaware of any competitive work.