Posted on 11/28/2005 11:20:38 AM PST by JZelle
The Mormon church arranged for a Utah senator to write a law to shield churches from prosecution for knowingly allowing illegal aliens to be ministers or do volunteer missionary work for them. Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, released a statement saying the church asked Sen. Robert F. Bennett, Utah Republican, to sponsor the provision, which she called a "narrow exception to the immigration act." "The law permits churches to use the volunteer services of their undocumented members by insulating the churches from criminal sanctions for doing so," she said. She said she would not answer any further questions, including why the church needs access to illegal alien volunteers. But now the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it wants to revisit the provision and Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican, has introduced a bill to repeal the exception. "It removes an important legal tool for law enforcement and at the same time allows groups that would do us harm to legally conceal and transport people whom they know are in the United States illegally," Mr. Tancredo said in a letter asking Mr. Bennett to undo the measure.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I have a lot of respect for the Mormons, but I don't like what they did here at all!
Maybe they are just tryin to find a way to use all illegal alien labor for that new mall they are building. And this way they can do it will unpaid volunteers!
"I have a lot of respect for the Mormons"
Why?
ping
Just doing the missionary work that Americans won't do.
Keep in mind that what the church is asking for is to allow those members to do VOLUNTEER work for the church. The church strongly encourages service as part of a Christian lifestyle.
Once again, Mormons try to exempt themselves from the laws of this nation.
That's not what it's about at all and I bet you know that too.
The provision would apply to any church. If you want to disagree with it, fine, but don't misrepresent it in your eagerness to slam Mormons.
Keep in mind that what the church is asking for is to allow those members to do VOLUNTEER work for the church.
How is that any different from the "Americans don't want to pick cabbage" argument?
Except, of course, that illegal cabbage pickers earn 10 cents an hour and these volunteers wouldn't?
It's a cold January morning in West Valley City, two weeks after Christmas. In a creaky house on Christie Avenue, Jesus Hernandez is just getting up. He rises from his sagging bed, where his wife and three children are cuddled close to keep warm, and walks quietly across the room, careful not to wake them.
He lights a tin camping stove, the only source of heat in his house, and warms his hands above the small blue flame. In the dim light, he opens the Book of Mormon.
He used to read a lot more, back when he was a missionary in Philadelphia. Now he hardly goes to church. His faith is failing him.
For most of November, Jesus worked for a stucco contractor in Lehi, long hours in the freezing cold. Every paycheck bounced. The same with his dad, and 18 others, all of them Hispanic, all of them in the United States illegally.
It happens all the time — the exploitation of undocumented workers. Too much, Jesus thinks. He's seen the crowds that gather outside the dingy offices of the Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake City, seeking help. He did as much. His complaint was forwarded to the Utah Labor Commission's anti-discrimination division. For a month, he has awaited their response, and his patience is wearing thin. Today he will call them.......
The difference is that there is no money motive at all in volunteer work. There are no paid ministers or missionaries so nobody is being potentially deprived of any income.
In many cases these persons wanting to server missions are in the USA illegally because their parents snuck them in years ago when they were kids. I fail to see how anyone is harmed by this.
This is a really rickety, long stretch of an attempt to tie into the LDS Church. The Church is not "a stucco contractor in Lehi". (Oh, and the Church's checks don't bounce either.)
Yes, there are failing businesses in Utah, as there are anywhere else. Yes, there are shady people in Utah, as there are anywhere else. No, it's not an evil conspiracy with the LDS Church at the center.
Sheesh.
lol! I was waiting for that!
I don't know how you can possibly say that. For the most part Mormons are far from Conservative and they are definetly liberal on social issues.
See Harry Reid. Even the esteemed Orin Hatch is a social liberal.
Except for that part, I wouldn't have a problem with it. If they were just talking about casual volunteers, it would be a reasonable exception, to shiled churches from liability re members' immigration status, and remove the potentially expensive need to screen all church members/participants for immigration status. I don't think anybody wants to see immigration officials raiding church-sponsored volunteer activities. But when volunteers are involved in such a major way as to be provided housing and living expenses by the church, then it's not unreasonable to expect the church to screen the volunteers (for immigration status and a lot of other things). It's one thing if somebody's illegal immigrant grandma is volunteering in the church nursery on Sunday mornings; a completely different thing if youth sleep-away camps and missionary training centers are being staffed by illegal immigrants (e.g. if they can't screen for immigration status, how could they have screened for registered sex-offender status?).
"Once again, Mormons try to exempt themselves from the laws of this nation."
You would have never said such a thing if you knew anything at all about the LDS church. The laws of this great nation have been repeatedly trampled underfoot in order to cause great distress to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Have you ever heard of the Extermination Order? It was issued by Governor Boggs of Missouri, pronouncing an edict to kill all the Mormons. What about the law that was supposed to keep mobs from driving the members of this church from their homes and lands and businesses and their temple in Kirtland Ohio. And then again in Missouri a couple of times, and again in Nauvoo Illinois. The saints built up beautiful cities and then were forced out at the point of a gun. And many were killed. The law was petitioned, clear up to the President of the United States. No one raised a hand to help. All the while, the Mormons were obeying the law. Even after they were driven in to the wilderness in the dead of winter - and no longer officially in the United States, they were asked to send volunteers to help fight the Mexican War. They complied. Don't harp about Mormons trying to exempt themselves from the law. You don't have a leg to stand on. Mormons have always had the credo to obey, honor and sustain the law. It seems that the law - and the government which is supposed to ensure it is abided, have been corrupt and warped for a long, long time.
"In many cases these persons wanting to server missions are in the USA illegally because their parents snuck them in years ago when they were kids. I fail to see how anyone is harmed by this."
To clarify: I fail to see how anyone is harmed by their being allowed to serve. The Church dosn't condone illegal immegration and has an excellent program called the 'Perpetual Education Fund' that enables former missionaries to get low interest educational/job training loans for training IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY in trades needed locally. The money they pay back is then used to help other students.
It seems to me that allowing them to serve a mission can put them in a position where going back will be a bigger benifit than before. I wonder if that is what they were thinking.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.