Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the spiritual leader of the Roman catholic Church in England and Wales, has used his New Year message to stress the importance of marriage and what are thought of as "traditional family values".

The Liberal Democrats yesterday responded to a call by many Christians for an amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The freedom to live out religious convictions is an important part of what it means to live in a plural and democratic society, says Catholic Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor.

A university-based Catholic research institute at the University of Cambridge has published a report which illustrates the shocking conditions endured by many migrant workers contributing to the economic life of the UK.