Ventimiglia priest takes in 70 migrants (2)

(ANSA) - Ventimiglia, May 30 - A Catholic parish priest in the Liguria town of Ventimiglia has taken in some 70 migrants whom police cleared earlier on Monday from a makeshift camp near the French border on Monday. The operation had been ordered by Ventimiglia Mayor Enrico Ioculano for reasons of public hygiene and security. "They will stay here until a solution has been found," said Father Francesco Marcoaldi.
    Also on Friday, Ventimiglia Bishop Antonio Suetta called on fellow priests in the diocese to follow this example.
    "I issue a call to diocese priests for them to follow Father Francesco's example and open the doors of their parishes," he said.
    The bishop is in talks with Imperia provincial authorities to negotiate permission to set up a tent camp in the parking lot of a seminary located in the nearby town of Bordighera.
    It will take some time to get permission, the bishop said.
    "This why I urge priests to open their parishes," he said.