Churches jump into action with threat of immigration sweeps

[babylonsister]

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/churches-jump-into-action-with-threat-of-immigration-sweeps?fbclid=IwAR0jUOsqfETvz_aLTMOJyCM6JwOATQ1uufdZzy-F_W8g90Nx-lzAJH6dKWs

Sophia Tareen, Associated Press
Churches jump into action with threat of immigration sweeps
Nation Jul 14, 2019 3:30 PM EDT


CHICAGO — Religious leaders across the country used their pulpits Sunday to quell concerns in immigrant communities and spring into action as nationwide immigration enforcement sweeps loomed.

A Chicago priest talked during his homily about the compassion of a border activist accused of harboring illegal immigrants, while another city church advertised a “deportation defense workshop.” Dozens of Houston churches offered sanctuary to anyone afraid of being arrested. In Miami, activists handed out fliers outside churches to help immigrants know their rights in case of an arrest.

“We’re living in a time where the law may permit the government to do certain things but that doesn’t necessarily make it right,” said the Rev. John Celichowski of St. Clare de Montefalco Parish in Chicago. His nearly 1,000-member congregation is 90 percent Hispanic and mostly immigrant.

While federal immigration officials were mum on details, agents had been expected start a coordinated action Sunday targeting roughly 2,000 people, including families, with final deportation orders in 10 major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami.

snip//

In Los Angeles, the Rev. Fred Morris looked out over his congregation at the North Hills United Methodist Hispanic Mission and was relieved to see everyone who usually attends the early Sunday morning service. He had been worried many would stay home, fearing Trump’s threat of immigration sweeps.

“Everybody is nervous,” Morris said. “They are angry, very angry at being terrorized by our president.”

[phylny]

1. K&R

[renate]

2. I heard on MSNBC that it's ICE's policy not to take people from churches

I don’t know whether it’s always true and it was on satellite radio so I don’t know which reporter (not an anchor) said it.

It likely depends on the church. Evangelical congregations would probably hold the door open for ICE. Because that’s what their White Jesus would do, right...?

[gratuitous]

3. Weird

A post about Mike Pence and his indifferent sashay through his concentration camps, and folks can't slag on Christians enough. This post? Five hours, two responses.

[hunter]

4. If Mike Pence heard someone speaking Spanish in his church, he'd probably call ICE.

Most of the people in my church parish speak Spanish.

40% of the children in our schools don't speak English at home.

Generally speaking, my neighbor's parents were born in the U.S.A., their grandparent's elsewhere, same as my wife. I'm sort of the exception. My ancestors fled Europe in the mid nineteenth century.

My grandparents were all children of the Wild West. If you asked them their religion, it was "Not Mormon."

I live in the U.S.A. that apparently terrifies Trump voters, Christian or otherwise.