SiC makes the front pages (3) The Universe

After the Express and the Morning Star comes SiC 2009's third newspaper front page -- this time, the popular Catholic weekly The Universe. I can't see it on its website but I have the paper in front of me: CHURCH PLEDGES TO SUPPORT UNDOCUMENTED WORKFORCE is the banner headline alongside a pic of Columban fathers and lay missionaries in Trafalgar Sq. The report is by Paul Donovan -- who has written not a few stories about London Citizens and this campaign in particular -- which quotes from Bishop Patrick Lynch's compelling homily on 4 May, notably his call for a pathway into citizenship for migrants who have been in the UK for more than five years.

The other Catholic weeklies also give the 4 May good coverage.

The Conservative Catholic Herald -- which first tried to ignore SiC, and last year spluttered its disapproval -- has an excellent piece on p. 2 by Mark Greaves using the Press Association angle: 'Avoid scapegoating migrants in the recession, urges bishop' is the headline. The piece, and an accompanying pic (seen here) of exuberant nuns leaving the Mass for Migrants, can be read here. According to the newspaper, Bishop Lynch "strongly defended the idea of a one-off amnesty for illegal immigration" and "said at the Mass on Monday that the human dignity of migrants was separate from their legal status and whether they had the right papers".

The Tablet -- a longstanding supporter of the campaign -- reported (here but login needed) 4 May under the headline: 'Churches show support for migrant workers'. Reporter Christopher Lamb quotes Bishop Lynch -- "There is a clear moral case for undocumented workers of five years or more to be given an opportunity to build a future in the United Kingdom” -- as well as Bishop McMahon in the Square that "for any government to do nothing about regularisation
is irresponsible and leaves countless migrants vulnerable to exploitation and living in fear and limbo."

The venerable Anglican weekly the Church Times reports -- here -- 4 May using a photo and a brief report alongside a story on jail conditions for asylum seekers.

The Universe gave the earliest newspaper backing for Strangers into Citizens in a favourable editorial back in November 2006. The Tablet supported SiC in an editorial in April 2007.

Front covers of newspapers and magazines thus far generated by SiC -- all except the Express favourable to the campaign -- have appeared in:

The Spectator -- The Tablet -- The Universe -- The Morning Star -- The Daily Express -- The Independent