We heard sermons on slavery last Sunday, following St Paul’s short epistle to Philemon, which is interpreted as a plea against slavery. We’re told to deplore the historic (or current) practice of slavery, and to bear in mind that the White House in Washington was built by slaves.

But as most of us have little direct contact with any such dire practices today, condemnation is easy. What is much harder to wrestle with is the catastrophic and oppressive situation which is on our very doorstep at Calais.