Who should be permitted to immigrate into the United States and other rich nations with great opportunity? How many people should be allowed in? And to what degree should religious teachings guide public policy?
These are questions that countries like the U.S. and the U.K. have been facing for years.
With new immigration policies on the horizon in both nations, faith leaders are weighing in, with some calling for a loosening of border restrictions, and others demanding the borders be closed tighter than ever.
Welcoming the Stranger
A controversial new migration bill is being debated in the U.K. that would vastly restrict immigration and eliminate protections for asylum seekers.
In response, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, gave a speech to the House of Lords opposing the bill on biblical grounds and citing the principle of "welcoming the stranger."
The reactions to Welby's speech were mixed. Some critics called it an example of "virtue signalling" without proposing an alternative solution to the problem.
However, others thanked Welby for his willingness to speak out.
"Thank you for your moral leadership and for being the moral compass for the country and our society. And also for showing leaders of other faiths how and when intervention in public affairs is necessary," said Ghanem Nuseibeh, Chair of the U.K. group Muslims Against Anti-Semitism (MAAS).
Housing the Houseless
Meanwhile, in the United States, migrants are flooding the border as Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that restricted immigration into the country, comes to an end.
Among those stepping up to help migrants are local churches and houses of worship.
Pastor Rafael Garcia of Sacred Heart Church in the border city of El Paso, Texas says the amount of migrants he expects to see following Title 42’s expiration will be “very painful.”
“In general, I find that the population outside, which is now mainly men, understand that we cannot help everyone and it’s very humbling to me. They’re very gracious. They say 'hello' and ‘thank you, Father.'”
Faith and the Future of Immigration
Interestingly, faith groups are deeply divided on immigration policy.
For example, some religious circles have a harder-line view when it comes to welcoming migrants. A 2018 survey found that white evangelicals were the biggest opponents of immigration, with over 50 percent of those surveyed favoring restrictions or bans.
However, there are also plenty of faith leaders and individual churches ready to advocate for migrants and rally to assist them.
Last year, some 165 faith leaders from the US and beyond signed a letter imploring President Biden to drop Title 42 on faith-based grounds.
“Our diverse faith traditions compel us to love our neighbor, accompany the vulnerable, and welcome the sojourner — regardless of place of birth, religion or ethnicity,” the letter reads. “Importantly, our faiths also urge us to boldly resist and dismantle systems of oppression.”
They also called for President Biden to drop his administration’s proposed Title 42 replacement, which will require migrants to apply for asylum in other countries before the United States, arguing that it is “ineffective, harmful, inhumane, and deadly.”
As of now, the administration has announced no plans to shift its immigration strategy or to become more welcoming to immigrants.
What is your reaction? Should religious teachings play a role in immigration policy?
56 comments
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Michael Holland
America was built on the back of immigrants, politicians that live in a bubble are so far removed from reality, they all need to step down from their golden thrones and get a clue!
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Michael Holland - Your statement, "America was built on the back of immigrants" is far from being accurate or the truth if you know your American history. Native Americans had lived in North America some 20,000 years before being invaded by the first wave of illegal immigrants from Europe. What made "America Great" were the white European-Americans who killed and exterminated the Native Americans, brought diseases, stole the natives land, food and natural resources, AND purchased slave from the Africans to work for free. These Europeans also brought their God and religion and forced as many people as they could to become Christians. And with "Manifest Destiny" these immigrants believed they were doing God's work and were being rewarded with free land and natural resources stolen from the Native Americans. While God provided those early Europeans with Manifest, God did the same for the Germans with Lebensraum starting in 1936.
Let us not forget it was America who stole present day California, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Colorado from Mexico fair and square in the Mexican-American war which allowed slavery to continue in the US, while it was illegal in Mexico.
Yes America was built on the backs of immigrants, but let's not forget all of that free labor slaves provided. Or the fact that we slaughtered/exterminated Native Americans, stole land from others and reneged on many peace treaties similar to what happened in Europe which resulted in World War II.
And now, we, the original illegal-aliens are crying foul because the people we stole land from are invading us?
God was on the side of Manifest Destiny. Then God was on the side of Lebensraum for a while. It appears God doesn't like us and is now on the side of the Hispanics with a Manifest Destiny/Lebensraum. It's just the Hispanics taking back the land America stole from them.
I've heard the Catholics are loving this, as most of these poor and uneducated Hispanics are believers in the Catholic religion, (That is until they realize their religion, like all religions are about controlling the uneducated and the poor.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Never been a theist, never been a patriot. Oh, I went to church bc of my mother. That’s something all good mothers do, right? Well, at least until around junior high school. Dad never participated in that farce. And it was my generation that declined the invite to the war they were throwing in the 60s. Hell no! We won’t go!
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Remember in the 60s when Time magazine proclaimed God is Dead? That’s when the Hell no! We won’t go! Meaning to church began. I remember being in Sunday school being taught the story of Genesis and how God screwed up the order God created things. And that when God created everything it was God. At 8 years old we knew it was all lies. Then we were told God knows all and is everywhere so you had better be good or you will go to hell. Well wait a minute, the pastor is committing adultery, we are killing mothers and babies in Vietnam, and on TV I’m watching as peaceful black protesters are getting the **** beat out of them and this was all done by loving Christians who were taught to treat other with kindness and love just as Jesus would. And look today the Christians are still using violence to teach their message of love. The lessons I learned in church and Sunday school is God is not Dead, there never was a God and the Bible is a bunch of stories stolen from other religions used to control and manipulate stupid people.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
@DR Spindler Pretty much the same here. The ‘Hell no we won’t go!’ brought zero active thoughts of church/god though. Of course I had zero thoughts about god, including when it was my turn to ‘say grace’ at Sunday dinner.(Mon-Sat didn’t get that service.)
The bible was written at a time when people may not have even fully developed consciousness. (Read: The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind.) I wouldn’t say that it was WRITTEN to control people but it certainly did take n that role.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Dr. Zerpersande Not sure if you are aware but only one of the authors of the Bible was able to read and write. (Maybe Mark) All of the other authors were illiterate and had to use a scribe. We "trust" the scribe actually wrote the exact words being dictated.
But then we know as the Bible was being copied scribes accidently and intentionally made changes. Some scribes were lazy and left our portions of the text, And other embellished stores.
Let me clarify about controlling people. When the Bible got to Europe royalty and religion were married. Royalty need a way to control the people and what better way then to use religion. If you do something wrong, a mythical being will do bad things to you. And if you are really bad, you will spend your afterlife in pain. And royalty needed religion to say they were chosen by God to rule. It was the perfect marriage and was an easy sell to uneducated people. All they had to do was get people to believe. And then you had royalty force religion on everyone so all you had left were people who were believers.
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Cynthia Lippert
This is great information. Thanks for sharing
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Cynthia Lippert This form has been a wonderful place to learn about the history of religion. It's amazing how easy it is get people to believe in the Christian religion when we know the stories in the Bible were are just retelling of the same stores from other religions. If you are interest Joseph Campbell studied the worlds religions for 60 years. Videos of his talks can be found on YouTube. Then you have science and that Belgium priest who came up with the Big Bang demonstrating what God told us in the Bible is just not true. There were so many people in history who were becoming clergy or were clergy and made discoveries proving God and the Bible is wrong. And then there are the moral issues with the Bible that just don't sit well with people today. So they conveniently changing what the what the Bible has to say to meet today's acceptable political narrative. And now with mass social medial the entire Christian religion is being hi-jacked for economic and pollical agendas What better way then to lead people who have been trained to follow and not think for themselves. It's perfect.
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Najah P Tamargo
Sorry, I forgot to post my name: Minister Najah Tamargo
Maybe those "white evangelists" should remember the genocide their ancestors committed upon the FIRST PEOPLES that were here, for thousands of years, to get where they are today!! We ARE ALL immigrants! So let's show a little kindness to those poor people that are just trying to survive. Better yet....maybe the government should streamline the process so it works better, and faster! The only place "religion" has here is to comfort those in need.
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Colleen McAllister
This issue will not be resolved easily. I am a white Evangelical Christian who attends a church of mostly immigrants. My family also immigrated here to escape persecution in our home country. I support immigration but it is at the ballot box that we need to address this, not the pulpit. Religion does not nor should not inform our laws.
Unregulated immigration helps no one but stresses our infrastructure. I have no idea what the solution is but allowing an unrestricted influx of people is only going to make it worse.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Colleen McAllister You are right, Religion does not nor should not inform our laws, But the fact is the people who create or laws are religious and believe God is telling them what to do. Just look at the supreme court's decision on abortion. What many Christian politicians say about rape, that women want to be rapped and like it. And they become pregnant they should be forced to have the child. And look at how these loving Christians treat people who are LGBTQIA+. It's these Christian values which young people cannot stand that's causing them to have nothing to do with the Christian religion or with Christians. I took know a lot of immigrants who are Christians. And once they see how American Christians treat each other they want nothing to do with Christianly either. Colleen aren't you seeing the same thing where you are?
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Clay Serenbetz
Congress must act compassionately with revised legislation.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Hahahahaha! Good one! Yep, all we need are some new laws to fix this problem up. The Native Americans probably tried addressing the same problem with ‘pale skin’ by going into a sweat lodge and smoking tobacco.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
The reason religious leaders are split on the immigration issue is purely political. What the bible has to say about immigration is pretty clear ( https://www.openbible.info/topics/jesus_on_immigration ) but right-wing media exists to get Republicans elected and the primary way it does this is by fomenting outrage and fear, which right-wing politicians then promise to 'fix'. The Republican platform has no coherent basis other than a race to the bottom to find the lowest common denominator to put the Republican leadership in power. This is why right-wing media is constantly telling you immigrants are going to steal your job, give drugs to your kids, and rape your women. This is why they tell you the LGBTQ are going to break all the sports records and transexualize your children. This is why they say everyone except Republican leaders are coming to take their guns. This is why the DeFacto leader of the party of 'Family Values' is a serial adulterer and convicted sex offender (Trump).
Unemployment is currently quite low, yet many businesses are running reduced hours because they cannot find employees to do the jobs, especially restaurant and service industries. We need more immigrants, not less, but so useful is the right-wing immigration fear mongering that the issue has become truly divisive - just the way the propagandists like it. I just hope we do the sensible - and moral - thing, before real damage is done.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2023/01/25/unemployment-is-low-but-so-is-the-labor-force-participation-rate---whats-going-on-in-the-us-labor-market/?sh=3d4176f0244e
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Lawrence A. Benson
I couldn't have said it better. There are over 400,000 Churches in this country, so what is the problem??? The problem is that the GOP Right wants to keep its electorate afraid and uninformed. It's all about control, control, control. It's not that much different than what the major religions of the world have done since the beginning of time. If we can't learn to live together, love one another and care for our fellow humans, then we have no business being on this planet. The creatures have more respect for each other than "civilized humans" have for each other. "Separation of Church and State"
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Lionheart
I love having a “legal” immigration system here in the US. It took me 2 years to legally immigrate from England. It included two trips to the American consulate in London twice for me and my family, one of those trips was to have an interview to:
A) Review all of our health records to ensure we would not be bringing any illnesses/diseases into the country.
B) Look at our financial status to ensure we would not be a drain on the economy in any way.
C) Check on our educational level. Would be be an asset to the US?
D) Check for any criminal record.
E) Check to see if we had employment.
Can you see that without these checks it can impede our status as a stable country? We are already starting to see the affects of what illegal immigration, of 12 to 20 million people that have skipped these essential steps, can bring to a nation. Couple that with raising the debt limit, and giving away billions of $$ to other countries, not looking after our own, we are on a pathway to implode to extremely difficult times. We are in a hole, and still digging, with the intent to get out, but we are in fact just getting deeper and deeper.
Someone will end up having to pay, and you can guarantee it won’t be politicians. They always look after themselves first, no matter which administration it is. Even, AOC, who was struggling to pay her rent only a few years ago tending a bar, is now miraculously set for life, financially. 🤷🏼
🦁❤️
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Lionheart America only allows smart people and people we want, such as thousands of hard core Nazis who were scientists into our country legally. (Okay the Army lied, to get the Nazi's here with Operation Paperclip)
The others just like countries in Europe we allow in illegally or as modern day slaves to do the hard work Americans find too difficult and so we have inexpensive food and cheap goods. After all were are capitalists first, and then say we are Christians for appearance.What you are describing is what happened when the Iron curtain fell and what happened between Serbia with Albania resulting in the Bosnian, Kosovo and Croatian wars. Simply put it was poor people with a different religion running across the boarders for "richer" countries for a better life. Would you agree?
Isn't this the same thing? The US stole modern day states in the west from Mexico in the Mexican-American war. Then the US got involved in illegal drugs and arms destabilizing central and south American countries. Now these people are running back what was once their land before we stole it with a war. And yup, it's making a mess out of our country, But isn't that what Portugal, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom also did?
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Humanism Clergy Linda
America isn't the only country who wants a certain type of person immigrating to there countries. Canada UK you have to have something to offer the country. I can't just pickup and travel to Canada to get away from insanity of America. I'm a senior citizen I have nothing to offer so I'm stuck here.
I'm not against immigration though we need a sense able immigration reform. Unfortunately we can't take everyone. We can't even take care of people who are already here.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@ Humanism Clergy Linda. The people who were already here in North America were doing fine for 20,000 years. It wasn’t until the first wave of illegal immigrants to North American came to American who couldn’t take care of themselves. Heck we celebrate Thanksgiving every year to remember how kind and generous and welcoming the Native American people were before we killed most of them and stole their land 400 years ago. And in 400 years and we still can’t take care of ourselves.
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Joseph Knopick
Thank you.
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ServantOfJudgement
@lionheart Welcome to your new home! Happy to have you here! I did some work in England a few years back and I was surprised at how similar our illegal immigration problems are. I worked with quite a few illegals during my time there. You're right, a functional immigration system is crucial for a safe, virulent and stable country. It's basic logic. We don't allow strangers to enter our home when they please, at least not for very long.
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Lionheart
Thank you. I like to think my immigration helped the United States, and it’s citizens.
As an Aerospace Design Engineer I, along with others, was invited, from the UK in 1987, to help with the redesign of the Solid Rocket Boosters to help get NASA’s Space Shuttle Program back in flight, after the Challenger disaster in 1986. I’m eternally grateful for that opportunity to not only immigrate, but become an American citizen, which gave a new life to me, and my family, at the sad cost of those who lost their lives in that tragedy. 💐
🦁❤️
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Pamela Kay Waters
Great remarks here but you know they won't test every person that comes in. They don't have the manpower.
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David Arthur Lewis
America has a severe labor shortage that is causing runaway inflation that even the Federal Reserve System cannot contain. We NEED immigrants to fill those jobs. This is simple economics. Immigrants bring innovation, enthusiasm, and prosperity to our economy and our communities. But, of course, haters gonna hate.
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Thomas A Barry
First, the immigration problem is a separation of Church and State!
Church…open your arms and welcome a stranger! But the truth is nobody wants to welcome these strangers into THEIR homes and back yards! It’s a case of let them in, just not into my neighborhood and home!
The State says we are a Country built on Laws. However, liberals have removed the term Illegal Immigrants and replaced it with Undocumented Immigrants! These individuals want asylum and the liberals want them to get FREE housing, food, money, healthcare, education, drivers licenses, etc etc. All items we in the United States have paid into a system since we started working. Our children have to pay their education. Our veterans are being removed from housing to give to immigrants pouring in to our Country. Other Countries have laws that keep these individuals thinking they can just come in and will be welcomed.
My perspective…if the Religious and Liberals do NOT want to open their homes, yards and dinner tables to this surge of immigrants …they need to stay OUT of this problem! It only adds to the out of control problems the Government has created. The Government needs to stick by the “This is a Country of Laws” and be allowed to enforce those laws we all have to live by (that nothing in life is free) and be allowed to keep them out without the outcry's from Religious and Liberals.
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Clay Serenbetz
There are lots of jobs that Americans with European ancestry are unwilling to do. Like working in agriculture under deplorable conditions. Congress must expand visas for such workers or farmers cannot harvest their crops, raising food prices.
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Joseph Knopick
I am the great grandson of immigrants. My Great grandparents came from central Europe to the US through NYC. They entered through Ellis Island and were welcomed. 1910.
My Great Grandmother became a naturalized citizen. My Great Grandpa died a legal immigrant.
I have no problem with immigrants. However, they should proceed the legal way, like my ancestors had.
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Elizabeth D'Onofrio Halladay
I am sure that the immigrants today would go through the hoops needed to become a citizen or legal immigrant. Although the U.S. doesn't have the man power to show them the way these days. Unlike Ellis Island, these people are just pushed and shoved into cages until they can be processed. Children are starving as their parents wait to be processed for entry. If you don't want immigrants that aren't worthy of what you say an American is, then go down to the borders and help process them. It's so easy for Americans to sit on their butts complaining. I live in Florida and the crime is not mostly immigrants but poor citizens that feel it easier to steal from someone then work for it. In my experience with illegal immigrants, I have never met one that didn't work their hardest to provide for their families, and in hopes of being a citizen. It's a cost most can't bear. Although friends of mine from countries in Europe were able to bear the cost, and win the lottery to become a citizen. Yes, it's a lottery. Give people a chance to grow and let them fill lazy Americans jobs. That's all they want!
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Anthony DeAngelis
It's not that we shouldn't receive others into our country. It's a matter of law of course but I don't want to get into that.
Simply stated: Good fences make for good neighbors.
I interpret this as take care of your things and organize your place. This way, when your "invite" others into your space, things are organized and "in-Place", so-to-speak. It makes for a better experience for all and both sides understand each others rules and expectations. :)
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Kathryn Darcy Smith
We have immigration laws for a reason. More razor wire!
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Keith
I find this a great article. It’s shameful that a great majority of the Christian community have gone from caring, loving, and giving to the others less fortunate and to missions of human kindness, to non-caring, non-giving to those of less fortunate or of those in distress. Also, the loving of others shifted from loving others to only loving those who only believe what they believe and have allowed the government to dictate what they should be doing. We are however, a nation that was founded on immigrant’s were a life of freedom’s are promised. I agree that the immigration laws need to be refined to be legally equitable to all people without any discrimination.
Rev. Keith Connecticut
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Dawn Lorraine Pisturino
The current immigration crisis is shameful. Most of the people coming are not asylum seekers at all. They do not respect our laws, they just barge in, take advantage of our Christian charity, and feel entitled to do so. Jesus never said that anybody had the right to invade our country or any other. I support LEGAL IMMIGRATION ONLY! People need to stay in their own countries and fight for better conditions. The more money we spend on illegals, the less money there will be for American citizens. Churches are trying to keep their pews filled with illegals.
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Cynthia Lippert
What are your sources? Or is this just your opinion ?
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Quinn R Amaro
I am a ULC minister. I do not see what is taking place as a racial matter. I see it in two views: 1. The political and economic view which is secondary to my main
view. 2. My Main View-- Behold, the Word if God makes this very clear that there is a single God Head which consists of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is not by human.
ingenuity that humans exist but as a GIFT IF GOD.Those within the celery who are not able to see the difference between thinking like a human and failing to see from 3i5hinnyhe heart what God wants us to see, they are failing God who is righteous eternity and human control over the world as temporary.
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Brien
This is why church and state need to stay separate. I wish we could live in a world without borders, but that's just not possible now. Maybe someday, when we all become the same kind of person, and have the same ideals, we will live as one people. But, thankfully, I won't be here to see that.
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Rev.Dr.Father Dan Ratiu
The whole world was colonized by Europeans! Wars in all the Americas (North, Central and South), colonies, wars, Africa, Australia...now...are we talking about emigrants!? We don't care about US anymore! Mankind has divided, we no longer like our neighbor...coworker...we are selfish and evil! Where will we end up? Many of us can say..."I was also an emigrant" even if our ancestors were... we are also descended from them! What else is normal?
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev.Dr.Father Dan Ratiu What you are describing is evolution. Mankind originated in Africa as we all know. But at sometime evolution in some gave them a curious gene and they migrated out of Africa with their skin becoming lighter and lighter to the color we call white or Europeans. The curious gene in the Europeans continued to spread and then a group of con men stole religious stories from other religions to create Christianity for profit and control. These "smarter" Europeans then went back to the countries from which they came with a Christians God forcing upon everyone while stealing their land, spreading disease and mass killing and slavery. Had God not given those early people the curious gene, God/Christianity would not exist.
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Daniel-David
There’s a really good song written my one of my favorite singer/songwriters, his name is John McCutcheon, it’s apply titled:
I AM AN IMMIGRANT
HE also wrote a song called: HAPPY ADOPTION DAY. I have used both of these at various times as a hospice chaplain.
Let me close by saying, I am in no way involved with John Mc. In any way whatsoever. Just a huge fan.
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Rev. Laurie G. Cleveland RN
Ok. Obama made deals with varioys states to house illegal imnigrants. There's a huge problem with this. First, there have been citizens on wait lists for years that needed that housing. Building housing and then say to those who have been waiting is wrong. Citizens should come first. I don't want to see more people on the dole. We have paid our fair share and we arenXt even coming close to what we put into it. There needs to ve a timeline. You keep them until they have marketable skills that they can move out and eventually be productive citizens. It once was if you were a US citizen, you had to revoke all ties to other countries. ISRAEL unfortunately started this trend. My daughter had a friend whose dad was the editor of a Jewish newspaper in Brookline, MA. They became friends at 4-H camp. Every summer, he woild go back to Israel, sometimes to visit his grandparents and then it became different. He was being sent to military camps for kids. It was whst the heck? After doing 2years of service, he came back here and I guess lives around Bridgeport, CT. So this is his country and why didn't he have to serve here as well? I have no problem helping out people, but on a short-term basis. The southern border is a mare's nest of legitimate people requesting amnesty and criminals of every description. Many are displaced because of drug cartels, so get rid of them and let these peoole go back to their countries of origin. Then we have a ton of children, some are kids of refugees, but others were kidnapped. They have been doubly traumatised. Then you have the northern route from Canada into the ststes. It's little talked about but its a very quick jump omfrom Quebec to northern NH and ai will bet the same applies to themajority of the US-Canadian border. That is not being talked about much. I don't want people to think that if they come here, they get a free ride. Find out what they are good at and march them up. Fast track them if you must, but move them from hand outs to productive people.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev. Laurie G. Cleveland RN Aren't you forgetting the unrest in many of the the Hispanic countries was caused and funded by the United States? It was the United State who sole land fair and square from Mexico in the Mexican-American war. And it was the the US/Regan/ Oliver North/CIA, Nicaraguan Contra army and Colombian and that arms for drugs that's rustled in the explosion of illegal drugs and illegal weapons in the US. usages in the US and caused so many of our south of border neighbors to flee their country.
What the heck did we think would happen when the US government got involved with the buying and selling of illegal drugs and arms. We are getting the world we created... courtesy that Christin President Regan who wife trusted psychics.
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Alexander Arends
I think we are missing the point. Government has the duty to protect its citizens. The walls of Jerusalem, were built originally to protect the borders of the city against intrusions. But what is the message here? Is it to condemn our immigration policies, or is it a message directed at you and I? How prone are you and I to open our doors (and hearts) to total strangers? Will you ask for some prerequisites before you allow a stranger in your home? So before we challenge our government to adopt humanistic policies, let's examine ourselves first.
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Rev. Kev
First, it's worth noting that America is a nation of laws and not a particular, religious faith. I respect what people of compassion want to accomplish. It's a noble cause to try to help those in need. But we also can't let religion be our guide when it comes to public policy. We need to balance the desire to help those in need and fleeing oppressive regimes with the fact that we cannot simply allow everyone to enter just because they show up. There need to be laws and controls.
People in the U.S. should take a look at the regulations to immigrate to many other countries. Usually they require a skill that can help the economy, some require a resident sponsor, language requirements, residency for several years before applying for citizenship. People who are ready to enter society and become an active, useful citizen who can communicate and get along in their new culture. I see nothing wrong with such requirements.
We also have to consider that our country is facing new crises as global climate change brings new problems and natural disasters upon us every year. Droughts. Wildfires. Floods. Storms of increasing strength. Rising ocean levels. We are already experiencing internal climate migration as people leave already badly affected areas for other states. We can look to water shortages and possible food shortages as temperate zones shift north.
In short, it's possible we simply won't be able to support large groups of immigrants in the future. And agencies like the DoD are already looking at climate models in light of national security as it affects us at home and our position with other nations. Not too far in the future, climate immigration will be a more expansive, global movement. Populations will move northward or try to move to more fertile, temperate nations. Ours will not be a nation able to be as welcoming as many would desire when that time comes.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
The Hebrew God, of the First Testament (AKA, New Testament) claim that their Hebrew God gave what’s now Israel to them; and the Christian Europeans, who went west, and killed off anyone who got in their way, claimed that their Christian God had given North America to them — they classified the Christian Gods giving them North America as “Manifest Destiny.”
Nature (AKA, the SHP God) gave the White Christian Nationalists (from Europe) so these white Christians stole Native American lands, fair and square.
If you don’t accept “Manifest Destiny” you’re probably a socialistic-Communist, even though White Christian Nationalists know that their Christian heaven will be a socialistic/communistic/dictatorship — without any individual rights — or any elections.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
I'll just make an observation from thinking of the carrying capacity of the habitat. Do we have the resources to support movements of large numbers of people from place to place?
My ancestors came to the lands now known as the Americas starting 15,000 - 20,000 years ago and ending about 100 years ago. I would not be alive, save for them.
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Kathy A McCabe
Luke 20:25 ESV He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
My family came to this country legally. Shouldn't we expect everyone to? When people come to our country, they should follow the laws, as we are expected to when we visit other countries.
Minister Kathy
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Richard Faust
As an atheist, how can you reference Jesus, since he did not exist nor did his teachings. Also could you please define what an Atheist minister is and what you minister? If it is against those who claim to believe in a God, why say anything since you claim that God does not exist. Just looking for some clarification.
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Thomas A. Follis
Wasn’t it the Church that so strongly wanted the separation of church and state?
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Paul Edward Nunis
Wanted (and got) separation of Church and 'rendering unto Caesar'.
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Paul Edward Nunis
Hmmmm... 'Jesus'. Foreign name, no English, no papers, no visible means of support.
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Anne 'Arie
While I have no problem with people who immigrate legally, what this amounts to, not only in the US but throughout Europe, is invasion. I don't have any answers other than if the US government had done something 40 years ago to stop the illegal border crossings, we wouldn't be in this mess today. As for churches offering up shelter to illegal aliens, I think it is wrong for them to get involved at all. If they don't pay taxes, they shouldn't be taking a stand on political issues. I do know that in some countries, Egypt being one of them, the police go around and gather up people who overstay their visas and deport them. That is because they have the good sense to keep track of who is in their country, what they are doing, and if they are doing what they claim they came to do. If not, then, they are deported. They know everyone who visits the expats and how long they are staying. Some other countries won't let foreigners enter without permission from both state departments and their freedom to travel around the country is restricted. Here in the USA, we seem to lose track of people who come here legally and illegally. Had anyone been paying attention to those "students" who, reportedly, didn't go to school, 911 would never have happened. In 2006, At least 11 milllion illegals were estimated to have made their way across the border and disappeared into the woodwork. Many obtained fake identification and sometimes even assumed the identities of living people only to be caught when the real "John Doe" filed their income tax or presented a check at the grocery store only to be told that someone else has that drivers' license number. This is not a victimless crime. Having watched the trends toward more and more illegal immigration for more than 30 years, I can't help but blame the government for their laxidasical attitue toward the whole issue until the people most affected by this trend started outshouting those who protected the illegals because they needed workers. Funny thing is, migrant workers can obtain legal status easily enough and all they have to do is go home when the season ends and come back again year after year. Instead, they get conned by criminals to pay to cross the border illegally, obtain fake papers, or, worse, get abandoned to fend for themselves.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
In Judaism, showing hospitality to guests is considered a mitzvah, essentially doing the right thing, " This is not to say that anyone is going to be "right" or "wrong" in aiding someone, just acknowledging a very old moral obligation that exists across many belief systems.
Many religious tracts across various belief systems, extol the virtues of hospitality, aiding others, and contain many examples of the importance of being hospitable toward strangers and the rewards that one receives for the act of kindness.
In Judaism, this act is not just a moral obligation, it has "legal" standing under Jewish Law. If you know someone who is hungry or needs a place rest or to lay their head, it becomes both a moral and a legal obligation to open one's home ( "bringing in strangers”) is an act of (" loving kindness").
These days, people donate money to organizations who provide care to strangers...because people want to help , but are dubious about the strangers, and for a host of reasons, can't run the risk of inviting strangers to the home. The reality now, just like the reality then : there are scary and dangerous people out there.
The "goal" though, as the Talmud teaches is that one’s house should always be welcoming and open to strangers and the stranger should not be made to feel awkward.
At the same time, a stranger who is a guest who has been welcomed into a house where there is sanctuary, food and rest is obligated to be grateful for the labors and desires of the host. In accepting hospitality, the stranger must accept the rules, expectations, and routines of the hosts home.
This social contract has been in place for far longer than there have been nations, and certainly far longer than there have been borders.
And if we want to lean towards the political and the demonstrative: just check out the words associated with our Statue of Liberty. You know the ones.
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Brien
I have read all of the posts put up, and no surprise they fall into two categories. Faith based opinions tend to lean heavily on the compassion side of the issue, with no real thought to the consequences of their solutions. Now, on the other side you have the protect and pay for opinions, what I refer to as reality. Now this opinion leans heavily into the protection and bottom line cost, but little on compassion. Instead of having these ridiculous idealists clog up the works, perhaps it is time for clear thinkers to take over. Now, before you smile and nod know that none of us fit that bill. I am so sick of grownups acting like children. If you want a perfect world, leave this one. It is not perfect, it just needs better solutions.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Imagine having the wherewithal to be able to move from your country to the US. You find out what the procedures are online, maybe make some calls, download or have forms mailed to you. You can visit the embassy/consulate for info and maybe for interviews. Then you buy your tickets (economy? business? it's a long flight, you want to be well rested). You have already found a place to live, maybe with a friend or family member or you've found an apartment. Employment is most likely an issue and you may have to show employment, promise of or later and proof that your looking. I can't understand why these immigrants coming up from the south just haven't bothered to follow procedure. They must think they're special. And they're not even white!
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
It was all good being an immigrant when it was whites moving around and laying claim to others lands.
Now that darker skinned peoples are the ones moving around, because whites have purposefully ruined their home countries with staged coups for minerals and vegetation monopolies, suddenly it’s an issue.
It’s more melanated people than non…I hope more wake up to the fact that they don’t have to take ill treatment from the people/resources/land thieves.
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Raymond Quintero
Bet my grandparents, or Greatgrandparents and yours were immigrants to this nation. We should hope for a World without borders one day in the future. Rev. Raymond
I'm an atheist ULC minister, but I noted that the article white evangelicals are strongly anti-immigrant. Am I missing something or are they against the teachings of Jesus on almost everything? It certainly looks that way to me.