News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Prayer-small-hands-main_article_image.jpg
CC
World News

Increase in Muslims turning to Christ could be down to asylum process

One clergyman has told a national newspaper that there are "mixed motives" in some conversions.

Dean of Liverpool Revd Peter Wilcox said his cathedral had seen the conversion of almost 200 asylum seekers in the past four years.

He told the Sunday Times: "Mixed motives are not unheard of. God alone knows the person's heard and we try to be consistent about that and not to set the bar at one height for middle-class aspiring parents seeking the best for the education of their children and the bar at another height for converts from Islam looking for asylum."

He's speaking a week after politicians warned that genuine Christian converts were being denied asylum in the UK because they couldn't answer Home Office questions like naming the 10 Commandments.

People claiming asylum in the UK are being turned away because current guidelines on "basic knowledge" mean staff ask questions such as 'when is Pentecost?', the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief said.

But Revd Wilcox told the newspaper: "I can't think of a single example of somebody who already had British citizenship converting her with us from Islam to Christianity."

He warned the Church could not refuse Baptism to someone who said they wanted to follow Christ.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "A document such as a baptism certificate would not automatically lead to a conversion claim being accepted as genuine but is given appropriate weight when considering all the evidence."

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate