Hat tip: Community Action Project A pledge of resistance signed by the Most Reverend Eusebius Beltran and several priests in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has been sent to Governor Henry. The pledge reads in part: Because this law is overly punitive and makes a felony of the act of providing humanitarian assistance to an undocumented person in need; we the undersigned clergy, religious leaders, and lay people of conscience will not and can not obey this law. We will continue to aid and assist all people regardless of their legal citizenship status, with charitable care and spiritual counsel. We people of faith and conscience refuse to be defined by fear of Oklahoma's law which makes servant-leaders felons. Rather we stand in obedience to faith, hope, and love. We call for repeal of this anti-immigrant bill and for the passage of immigration reform that provides justice for all of God's children. We stand together, in solidarity, in defiance of this law because of our allegiance to a higher law; the law of love of God and humanity. You can read the full pledge and see other materials of the Catholic Church related to HB 1804 and the immigration debate by clicking here. In July, Rev. Marlin Lavanhar of Tulsa's All Souls Unitarian Church delivered a sermon on immigration entitled "Foreigners In Our Midst". You can click here to hear a podcast of Rev. Lavanhar's sermon. For an overview of the positions that various faith communities have adopted promoting hospitality and understanding towards immigrants, click here Related: Daily O'Collegian: Immigration law goes into effect today, worries some Stan Geiger: Ethnic Cleansing?

Labels: HB 1804, Immigration Reform

Posted at 11/01/2007 08:45:00 AM