London, England, May 9, 2007 / 10:21 am
The Catholic primate of England and Wales called for the rights of illegal immigrant workers in the UK to be respected.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the archbishop of Westminster, said he does not want to encourage illegal immigration but he believes more attention should be paid to the fair treatment of undocumented migrants in the country, reported Relevant News.
"We know that there are up to half a million immigrants who are undocumented and therefore, it is my view, and I think the view of many, many others, that some way should be found for these undocumented people who work in our country, who contribute to our economy, that their rights should be respected," he told BBC Radio 4 Today program.
The interview aired before the cardinal presided at a multilingual Mass in Westminster Cathedral in central London for migrant workers, followed by a procession and rally. The cardinal and the Anglican bishop of Southwark, Dr. Tom Butler, addressed the rally in Trafalgar Square.