Posted on 05/27/2010 2:13:24 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A Phoenix-based youth pastor is worried that his ministry could face legal troubles under Arizona’s new immigration law.
“We don’t ask people for their documents to come hear about Jesus,” said Ian Danley, youth pastor at Neighborhood Ministries, during a conference call with immigration reform advocates Wednesday afternoon.
The evangelical pastor said regular ministry work, such as driving teens to worship events, could be “criminalized” under the new Arizona law if a church worker knowingly transports youths who are illegally residing in the United States.
“The local community here feels under attack,” Danley said. “Recent high school graduates in my youth group are looking at what should be a bright future with little hope.”
Danley was among a group of Christian leaders, businessman, researcher, and policy experts that spoke during the Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform conference call. The leaders updated participants on how the Arizona immigration law has affected local residents and the national public opinion about comprehensive immigration reform, and how members of Congress feel about taking up the issue.
In April, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed SB1070 – an immigration bill seeking the toughest laws against illegal immigrants in the nation.
Under the legislation, immigrants in Arizona are required to carry their alien registration documents at all times or face possible arrest. State police are given the power to interrogate, arrest and charge people suspected of illegally entering the country. And people are prohibited from knowingly transporting illegal immigrants.
Christian groups and leaders across the political and theological spectrum have strongly denounced the new Arizona law.
Earlier in May, conservative evangelical leaders – including Southern Baptist leader Richard Land, National Association of Evangelicals president Leith Anderson, and Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver – endorsed an ad published in “Roll Call” urging Congress to pass immigration reform.
Faith communities throughout the nation – soon after Arizona passed its new immigration law – held prayer vigils to call on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Presently, as many as 17 states are considering to pass Arizona-type immigration law.
“We sympathize with so many who are frustrated in Arizona. But the solution is not piecemeal enforcement that targets Latino,” said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. “We need a better solution to make us all safe.”
To Republican lawmakers, Rodriguez said true conservatism is not preserving the white majority but propagating the ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
According to a recent national survey by Public Religion Research Institute, 56 percent of the American public oppose efforts to deport illegal immigrants back to their home countries. The survey also found that three-quarters of Americans agree that, given the opportunity, illegal immigrants would work hard to earn a chance at citizenship.
nobody is stopping them from evangelizing in MX to Mexicans.
need to tell pastors this is no immigration law
Horse manure! There is no connection between the text of the law (which I read in its entirety) and ministry work. This is just political rhetoric from an activist who puts worship of Obama ahead of worshiping God.
bahl?
You mean, like harboring known felons? Or buying stolen merchandise? How about sneaking packages on board an aircraft that you didn't pack?
Our church in Austin would often ask members to take some local members to a larger city, to the Temple - which we adamantly REFUSED to do, for exactly this reason. What's wrong with refusing to aide and abeit a criminal activity?
The new law simply restates existing federal law.
I’ve never heard of anyone being charged for driving a teenager to church. When it happens, I’ll worry about it.
To Republican lawmakers, Rodriguez said true conservatism is not preserving the white majority but propagating the ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
This is not a man of G-d, but a racist !
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
The above slop is a good clear illustration of why churches are dying off--so many of their "leaders" are too credulous and stupid to function effectively in the real world.
Part of evangelizing is teaching people to observe the law.
Googled for “Ian Danley” and immigration...came up with 4,090 results. Really.
Caesar is saying it is illegal for you to be in the US without documentation (visa, green card, etc). So this pastor is aiding and abeting a crime against Caesar (US law)
I've never seen anything in the Bible that would indicate Christians should ignore "unjust" laws. Perhaps you are confusing the passages that show men ignoring laws that impede obedience to God?
First of all, under the law the police can ask for one’s ID ONLY if they are stopped for some potential or actual offense (ranging from a traffic violation to a suspect in a felony)! Normal ministry activities don’t qualify.
Second of all, this pastor needs to be set straight. You CANNOT worship both God and obama, since obama has set himself up as a god.
I hope that this pastor is not using his ministry as an excuse to harbor illegals, or to justify open borders and open immigration. That IS breaking existing law!!! The REAL solution to the immigration problem is to improve Mexico, not for America to set up a “y’all come” sign at the border and in “advocacy” centers.
Neither Protestants nor Catholics have a monopoly on inane and feel-good theology. I would say they are equally infected with the decay of sound theology. I don't know where liberation, socialist theology began, but it has distorted the thinking of many churches.
Hey church, if you are doing something illegal, stop it!
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