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 6:45 AM |   

The attorney general's office filed a motion Monday to dismiss a lawsuit challenging House Bill 1804, which goes into effect on Thursday, November 1. The law bars illegal immigrants from getting jobs and state benefits and makes it a felony to harbor or transport illegal immigrants. While the new law has received a great deal of attention, there is still some confusion over what effect it will have. The News On 6 has received several e-mails from private business owners, asking what they have to do this week to comply with the new law. The News On 6’s Chris Wright reports the simple answer is nothing, for now.

"Well confusion is rampant for sure, people really don't understand the law," said Homebuilders Association President Glen Shaw.

As head of the Homebuilders Association, Glen Shaw has received plenty of calls from local contractors about House Bill 1804. He says many are not sure what changes, if any, they need to make before the November 1 deadline.

"Technically it won't have an effect on us this week, but it's had an effect on us for several months now," Shaw said.

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Labels: HB 1804, Immigration Reform, Rep. Randy Terrill

Posted at 9:48 AM |