THE Episcopal Church in the United States has criticised the US government’s decision to cut further the number of refugees being resettled in the country to a historic low of 18,000 over the next year. This is down from 30,000 this year, already a record low.

In a statement, a spokesman for the Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs said that the Church “condemns the administration’s decision to reduce the number of refugees and further dismantle the refugee resettlement program”.

The Canon to the Presiding Bishop for ministry beyond the Episcopal Church, the Revd Dr C. K. Robertson, said: “This decision will substantially hamper the vital work of Episcopal Migration Ministries to show the love of Christ to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”

He said: “There are millions of displaced persons around the world. The United States has a solemn obligation to do its part to aid this problem by showing generosity to refugees. Security and compassion are not mutually exclusive.”