The Moderator of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly has said he is 'horrified' at Donald Trump's refugee travel ban.
Right Rev Dr Russell Barr condemned Mr Trump's decision to sign an executive order suspending the admission of refugees to the US for 120 days and said protests against the ban had his 'full support'.
Dr Barr also said that it was 'vitally important' for the Church of Scotland to 'shine a light on injustice' and pray for everyone effected by the ban.
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He said: “As Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, I am horrified that President Trump has signed an executive order suspending admission of refugees to the United States for 120 days, and banning travellers from seven countries from entering the US for the next three months.
“Over the weekend thousands of people have gathered in US airports to protest and there has been international condemnation of the order.
“The protests and the condemnation has my full support.
“History is littered with instances in which human distrust, xenophobia, and discrimination has sewn hatred and conflict; our own desire for self-preservation taken at the exclusion of others.
“And yet throughout history the bible has called Christians to live beyond hatred and fear, demonstrating a radical hospitality where the stranger finds welcome and refuge is provided for those who are oppressed.
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“This faithful call is reflected in the recent statement given by Rev J Herbert Nelson 11, stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and we must be vocal in our support for them as they seek to hold their government to account.
“As for us, it is vitally important that the Church of Scotland shines a light on this injustice, that we pray for all those concerned, and that we act to make our own governments aware of Christs call to care for others, not just ourselves and our own.”
Dr Barr's statement comes as thousands of Scots prepare to take to the streets to protest against Mr Trump's 'Muslim ban'.
Marches will take place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews tonight, with more planned across the UK.
More than a million people have also signed a petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from making his inaugural state visit to the UK.
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However, Prime Minister Theresay May has rejected calls for the visit to be cancelled, with a Westminster spokesperson telling the BBC that stopping it would 'undo everything' that had been achieved during Ms May's White House visit.
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