Rev. Wallis Says Churches 'Will Not Comply' With New Arizona Law

[babylonsister]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2010
4:58 PM

CONTACT: Sojourners
Sheldon Good at [e-mail] / 202.745.4625, or
Burns Strider at [e-mail] / 202.215.2490


Rev. Wallis Says Churches 'Will Not Comply' With New Arizona Law


WASHINGTON - April 23 - In response to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signing Senate Bill 1070, Rev. Jim Wallis - a progressive evangelical leader, author of Rediscovering Values and president of Sojourners (the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States) - called the new law in Arizona a "social sin." Rev. Wallis also said in a statement that the "radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform."

On Tuesday, Rev. Wallis - along with other national and local faith and civil rights leaders - delivered more than 10,000 petitions in Phoenix to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, calling on her to veto SB 1070.

Full text of Rev. Wallis' statement below:

The law signed today by Arizona Gov. Brewer is a social and racial sin, and should be denounced as such by people of faith and conscience across the nation. It is not just about Arizona, but about all of us, and about what kind of country we want to be. It is not only mean-spirited - it will be ineffective and will only serve to further divide communities in Arizona, making everyone more fearful and less safe. This radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform. Enforcement without reform of the system is merely cruel. Enforcement without compassion is immoral. Enforcement that breaks up families is unacceptable. This law will make it illegal to love your neighbor in Arizona, and will force us to disobey Jesus and his gospel. We will not comply.

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Jim Wallis is the founder and president of Sojourners, the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States focused on the biblical call to social justice. Wallis is also author of the New York Times bestsellers God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It and The Great Awakening: Seven Ways To Change The World, Reviving Faith & Politics. His latest book is Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street.

Sojourners' mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world. Visit www.sojo.net, and www.GodsPolitics.com.

[DailyGrind51]

1. Churches will re-ignite the "sanctuary movement" of the Reagan years.

Remember when refugees from oppression in El Salvador and other Central American nations were provided sanctuary in American churches?

[walldude]

2. Guys like this are going to force me to re-evaluate my stance on religion

too bad he seems to be in the minority.

[csziggy]

3. Sojourners is a good group - Named for Sojourner Truth

I am proud to say that a cousin who is a Baptist minister, is a member. He's making up for his racist, fundamentalist father and right wing brother, bother of whom are the type that give religion a bad name.

Sojourners: http://www.sojo.net/

[tavalon]

7. I will always have a problem with fundamentalism of any religion

but progressive religions are fine.

[stray cat]

4. Well done! I hope people regardless of any church affiliation do the same

Risking jail and refusing to cooperate is the best and most real protest - anything less is just words

[cliffordu]

6. Exactly right.

[Mari333]

5. knr for downright awesomeness

[tavalon]

8. Rev. Wallis is a good Christian

[donheld]

9. k & R

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. kick and recommend

[entanglement]

11. Good for the Reverend, but there are probably 100 wingnut "Christians" in AZ for each Wallis

[dsc]

12. While we like this result of exalting religion over law

how is this different from anti gay churches refusing to obey gay rights laws?

[Towlie]

13. It's not "religion over law", it's morality over law, falsely posing as religion.

Morality is doing what's right, regardless of what you're told.
Religion is doing what you're told, regardless of what's right.