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 nation’s 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.
RE: The pastor’s statement calls for the enactment of a temporary worker program... there is already one in place.
So what’s the problem with re-stating it ? If there is already one in place, all they’re doing is re-stating their support for it. Is this lawless ? Not in any way.
RE: Seal the borders. Fix the system, including a requirement to learn English. Kick out the criminals.
Yep, that sounds like a brief summary of what these pastors are asking for.
I don’t see anything they propose that’s radical or lawless at all.
George Whitefield, so sorry. I need to get my stuff in one sock.
MINUS_THE_BEAR is just misinformed and he is showing it with every post he makes.
I cited a source to correct his views. See Post #40.
I can provide more authoritative sources to show that Evangelicals OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED AGAINST OBAMA ( opposite to what he alleged ).
Deport the pastors along with the illegal aliens after they strip them of their tax exempt status and fine the hell out of them for harboring criminals!!
They are just as criminal as the illegals!
OK, you’ve corrected the name to George Whitefield. Almost Everyone knows who he is. Next question -— what does he have to do with the topic of this thread ?
Thanks.
“Would it be OK if these Pastors came together collectively and spoke as American Citizens who happen to be Pastors ?”
Not as long as they are pastors and represent a church!
RE: Deport the pastors along with the illegal aliens after they strip them of their tax exempt status and fine the hell out of them for harboring criminals!!
Which pastors are you referring to ? Surely it can’t be the ones who drafted this declaration :
http://immigrationdeclaration.org/Pastors_Declaration.html
Any church that even mentions politics should be stripped of their tax exempt status!
RE:
I am not going to get into an argument with an Amnesty troll.
Obviously you want open borders or you back one of these churches because they will prey off of the people they will smuggle over the border by the use of human traffickers.
Obviously you haven’t even bothered to READ the Declaration which in its very first step CALLED FOR PROTECTING OUR BORDERS FIRST.
This is the demand of MOST AMERICANS.
Secondly, you accused most Evangelicals of being so ill informed that they overwhelmingly voted for Obama when in fact, the OPPOSITE was true. You have in effect shown your ignorance regarding this matter.
And you have to the gall to call me a troll ?? YOU ARE THE TROLL.
RE: I believe that people who obey the law should be rewarded. I used to think that Christians believed that as well. But they are just in it for the money
The Declaration calls for REWARDING PEOPLE WHO OBEY THE LAW WITH SPEEDY PROCESSING OF THEIR APPLICATIONS ( see Step 2 ).
Did you even bother to read and understand the document at all ?
If they harbor an illegal, or care for them in any way they are just as criminal as the aliens.
Promoting compassion is just as criminal.
RE: Any church that even mentions politics should be stripped of their tax exempt status!
Are issues like Abortion, Homosexuality and Gay Marriage considered politics ?
Absolutely!
Promoting anything but prison and deportation of an illegal alien is criminal!
RE: If they harbor an illegal, or care for them in any way they are just as criminal as the aliens.
Promoting compassion is just as criminal.
That is a big IF. You have to prove that first.
“Are issues like Abortion, Homosexuality and Gay Marriage considered politics ?”
As far as i’m concerned they are.
Keep it inside the church and keep their mouths shut outside of it!
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