All our faith traditions share a fundamental belief that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God and that we must treat every person with dignity, for “the strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself” (Leviticus 19:33-34). The interfaith statement includes seven principles that are rooted in our holy Scriptures, our faith traditions and our sense of American democratic values, which include:
”¢ ”¢”‚upholding family unity;
”¢ ”¢”‚creating a legalization process for undocumented immigrants;
”¢ ”¢”‚protecting workers;
”¢ ”¢”‚facilitating immigrant integration;
”¢ ”¢”‚restoring due process and just detention protections;
”¢ ”¢”‚aligning enforcement with humanitarian values;
”¢ ”¢”‚immigration as a matter of human rights.
Immigration reform would make us safer as a nation because it would make immigrants register with the government so that we would know who is here and give us the ability to identify those few immigrants who have committed crimes. Giving immigrants a reason to come out of the shadows would also allow them to feel comfortable cooperating with law enforcement to help identify those who are a danger or a threat.
[blockquote]”Our intention is to begin meaningful conversation in our congregations about the important moral dimensions of this issue and to urge Congress to act now.”[/blockquote]
Wait a second. This sounds like social activism first, figure out the moral equation later (to make it fit).
That immigration reform is again being talked about is another good sign that our economy is rebounding.
We tried this in the 1980s…it didn’t work. The problem just got larger and more expensive.
Control the border first, and then we might look at some of these other issue…when we can afford it.
“• • immigration as a matter of human rights.”
Hogwash.
If we are going to honestly and effectively speak of “human rights” then we should shift the blame for the ‘lack’ of “human rights” right back to where it honestly and properly belongs.
And the blame does not lie with the USA. It lies with the people and the cultures from which these illegal immigrants are fleeing. That is, their own people and their own cultures.
If the USA were to willingly absorb all of the people in the world who are fleeing from their own people and their own cultures, then the USA would soon, within a generation or so, cease to be a pleasant place to flee to. We will go into a cultural meltdown which will make our people and our culture just as inadequate as the people and cultures from which the illegal aliens are now fleeing.
Our real responsibility to the oppressed and/or impoverished people/cultures of the world is to be a living symbol of what they can achieve in their own contexts and in their own ways.
To roughly paraphrase the appropriate adages, “Teach a man to fish and he will eat fish; teach a man to farm and he will raise crops; teach a people the concepts of representative government and they will fairly govern themselves; teach a people to dig wells, properly dispose of sewage and follow other follow good health practices and they will be healthy; and teach a people to not look to government for their well being and they will seek self-improvement.
So, our role should not be that of condescending agents using the force of government to ‘miraculously’ solve the World’s problems by accepting illegal immigrants ‘willy nilly,’ but rather, our role should be that of teaching those in the homelands of the illegal immigrants.
AnglicanFirst, I think you’ve properly identified the source of many of the immgration problems: the countries from which most illegals emigrate. Lack of opportunity, medical care, education, poor economic health for families, freedom from fear……all of these are characteristics of those countries from which they flee, and really, who can blame them for wanting a better life for themselves and their families?
When the rich and the ruling classes in these countries loosen their purse strings, then maybe…..just [i]maybe[/i]……life will be better for their people. Until then………
Exodus 22:21
Leviticus 19:34
Hebrews 13:2
Believing in the bible is a hard thing to do.
RE: “Believing in the bible is a hard thing to do.”
JW wouldn’t know.
Besides . . . let’s not indulge in “bibliolatry” . . .
Heh heh.
Reply to #6.
John,
I would like to engage you in discussion regarding your offer of citations from Scripture, but I am afraid that you may be ‘dragging a red herring’ and what will result is my becoming entangled in ‘spin’ techniques utilizing rationalizations of the nature of the tiresome ‘shellfish arguments’ that have been used so often to justify ‘revisionist’ theological arguments.
I’m merely pointing out that an agenda that prioritizes national interest over charity is not necessarily a Christian agenda, or a biblical one. There may be good reasons to oppose immigration on the basis on public policy. It does, of course, require enlarging government, but that’s never been a problem for some of the commentators. I suppose hiring a bunch of INS officers would be another form of government stimulus, as would be building a huge wall between us and Mexico.
Well, Sarah, if we believe in two different religions, it makes sense that I have no idea what’s in the bible you read. It does seem as if plenty of people like to skip around a bit. I’m, of course, more comfortable with that human tendency than you are. John 5:39!
RE: “It does, of course, require enlarging government, but that’s never been a problem for some of the commentators. . . . ”
I’m all for the government being the size required to fulfill its listed responsibilities in the Constitution. Once we cut out all the stuff its arrogated to itself, fulfilling national defense duties will still allow the Federal government to be teensy, comparatively.
RE: “Well, Sarah, if we believe in two different religions
Yes, indeed.
Two gospels. In one organization.