15 January 2018      The World Council of Churches (WCC) joined ecumenical organizations, churches and congregations as well as many governments across the world in condemning President Trump’s reported remarks on 11 January referring to several nations as

“s***thole” countries, and reportedly telling a group of lawmakers that the United States should have more people coming from places such as Norway.

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit voiced his support for churches in the USA and elsewhere as they made it very clear that such racist expressions are against the most basic tenets of Christian faith and ethics.

“We call upon governments and heads of state to fulfill their responsibility to set high standards and promote mutual respect, non-discrimination and care for the dignity of all, both in international relationships and in their own countries,” said Tveit.

In addition, as a Norwegian, Tveit said he finds Trump’s reported comments particularly disturbing. “As a Norwegian and as general secretary of the international fellowship of churches in the WCC, I don’t accept that my country - or any other country - is used in expressions to undermine the dignity of other people and other countries.”

The National Council of Churches in the USA, in a statement issued 12 January, described Trump’s words as “deeply disturbing.”

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