Posted on 07/09/2010 7:20:27 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Over 220 pastors in state of Texas have drafted and signed a statement expressing their support behind what they believe to be the best balance between justice and compassion in regards to border security and immigration issues.
In the course of our history as a nation, challenges and crisis moments have arisen that required principled leadership and the laying aside of partisan politics, the pastors state in the preamble of their Declaration on Border Security and Immigration Reform. Such is the need before us in our day regarding the escalating illegal immigration crisis and the security of our national borders.
According to the pastors, it is clear and evident that the crisis regarding the state of the nations border security and immigration system must be addressed rapidly, justly and humanely with equal regard to both rule of law and God-given value of every individual.
Holy Scriptures demand that justice and compassion be balanced with neither improperly dominant over the other in our hearts and our laws, the pastors say.
Though the immigration issue had faded into the background for many after Congress failed to overhaul the immigration system in 2007, it was revived with the signing of Arizona's contentious new law, which instructs police to demand proof of a questionable person's legal status.
More than 20 states are discussing efforts similar to Arizona's. An Associated Press-GfK poll last month, meanwhile, found that 85 percent of people now rank immigration as an important issue.
"[T]he majority of people ... demand secure borders, credible enforcement of our current immigration laws by our federal government, reforming the broken immigration system, and humanely addressing those who have entered the country illegally," argue signers of the pastors' declaration.
That given, the ministers are calling upon elected state and national leaders to stop their political bickering, engage in genuine dialogue, cooperate with one another, and pledge to resolve the crisis by taking the three steps detailed in their declaration.
The pastors aim to see:
1) The national borders first secured, 2) The immigration system then reformed, and 3) A just process to legal status for specified illegal immigrants then implemented.
We the undersigned pastors declare our commitment to using our voice and influence in every way possible to support these principles, the pastors conclude in their declaration. We will also publicly hold accountable those who choose to remain silent, who are divisive for purely political purposes, or who act in opposition to these principles.
Signers of the declaration so far include over 220 pastors in Texas and around 50 pastors from other states in the nation. Some of the most notable names include megachurch pastors Robert Koke of Shoreline Christian Church in Austin, Steve Riggle of Grace Community Church in Houston, and Kirbyjon Caldwell of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.
Well, I’ve been to the link and I can’t find “the list”....
found it buried... dang IE
The leftist clergy has infiltrated EVERY organized group in this country.....is there anyone naive enough to think it wasn't involved in this effort?
As a footnote, let me state I've had enough of what is known as "conservative compassion". In fact I don't want to hear it again, and I don't want to be part of group-think compassion. I'll do my own compassion, thank you.
And to this group of pastors, thanks for this enormous verbal deluge on behalf of zero enlightenment. Your letter will be taken under advisement.
Now, shut up and preach.
Leni
“You post is really the crux of the matter. I would tell these pastors to revisit STEP 3 of their declaration because they seem to want to nuance criminal and non-criminal illegals in this country.The fact is both are breaking the law and need to be deported.Having said that, I am still in favor of an orderly, controlled temporary worker..”
None of the steps call for those breaking the law (here illegally) to be deported, even nuanced as you say. Also, most of those churches are notably liberal and sympathetic to illegals.
You failed to respond to my post giving point by point critique of their proposal. Do you agree or disagree?
Finally, your remarks in #110 are correct. I apologize.
Ping!
No it is NOT correct, Border Security is a NATIONAL Security issue, NOT an immigration issie!!
These freaks are supporting MARXIST LIBERATION THEOLOGY!!
Can’t you guys keep these pastors undercontrol?
DON’T MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE!!
DARN TEXANS are ruining the country! he-he
I agree mostly and you do have a point... but only to a point. I refuse to “dialog” about anything beyond enforcing existing laws and expelling people that have invaded this Nation illegally. If they are here illegally... there is no dialog beyond “go home”. They are free to apply for a visa, as any other nationality would do... if they wanted to come to America to live. To those that say that this path is too hard... too bad... it is supposed to be hard. Not everyone can become an American. Once again... that is the way it should be and that is the way that it is. There are also no anchor babies... when that case eventually makes it to the SCOTUS and it will... this will become clear.
LLS
If there is no secure and well-defined border, every border-crosser becomes a (politically correct) "migrant" rather than an "immigrant" with a definite intent to reside in the US. We should require border-crossers, migrants and immigrants all to abide by the law -- just as we require citizens to abide by the law -- but we should seek to attract only those immigrants who intend to abide by the law.
Abiding by the law presupposes a definite place where the rule of law prevails -- a place that is bounded by a border that is a real barrier to entry rather than a sieve.
Many that I recognize on the list in Austin are conservative evangelical churches.
I don't agree with several things in Section 3(the most dangerous being any path to citizenship for illegal immigrants), but the whole is significantly better than anything we would get from the current congress.
You’re a sucker. Ah, do you play poker?
See post 14.
Especially his and all others like his. I doubt they do much charity work and that’s why they were exempted in the first place. I’d bet there are corporations that do more charitable work than Rev Wright.
Step Two is NOT amnesty. It merely requires increased staffing to process the cases of those who chose the LEGAL path to entry. THIS I can agree with, as it would hurry up the wait for my stepson’s visa, which has been approved but has also been PENDING for several years (like six or seven) and that is way too long.I’m conflicted about step three so I’d like to hear some of their thinking as to what they mean and why. However, all in all, it’s far, FAR better than the position of some of the Roman Catholic bishops, and that’s a true fact!
The original comment was in response to the demand that these pastors and their churches be denied their tax status due to mixing religion and politics. Where Pastor Whitefield comes in is due to his role in exhorting Christians to become FREE CITIZENS rather than remain subjects. It is fitting, in a way, to this thread.
Your comment makes no sense. Churches were at the forefront of our Revolution, ensuring that we became citizens instead of staying subjects of the crown. We have a long and VALUED tradition of churches being involved in politics, MOSTLY for the betterment of our country. Of late, sadly, the left has used the churches to THEIR ends, but if you look at it, the “lefty” churches are losing membership as the fundamentalist/evangelical (conservative/pro-liberty) churches are growing quite well, thank you. I would agree with you if you modified your demand to “Churches which urge a growth in government, for whatever reason, should be stripped of their tax exempt status.” That would mean that those who demand the use of government to do what is, Biblically, the job of the churches would lose that status, and rightly so.
Providing for the poor, witnessing to sinners, educating our children, defining marriage and marrying men to women, and so forth, are CLEARLY what the church needs to do, together with the family. These things are way too important to be left to government. Yet many, even here, are urging more and more governmental involvement in these areas.
Fox is running a poll about whether the flag should be banned in schools in order not to inflame Hispanic students. The poll is being sandbagged by SEIU and we should mount a counter action if you agree with me that the flag should be taken down for no one.
Just in case you haven’t heard yet Fox News has a Poll-Should the Flag Be Banned at Schools?
Moveon.org, Organizing for America , and SEIU have been twittering today to go to Fox Poll and vote to ban the Flag .... and right now it is working.
SHOW THEM WHAT TRUE PATRIOTS BELIEVE!!! Let’s flip those numbers and show those who would ban the flag that we are organized and on the move....flip the numbers now-FLIP THE HOUSE in November!
GO HERE NOW: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/06/american-flag-banned-america/
..........and then pass it along!
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