Montana has a rich history of immigration, from the first settlers to the mass influx of immigrants who built the mining, timber, and coal industries that made this state prosperous. As a faith leader, I have serious concerns that ballot measure LR-121 runs counter to these immigrant roots and our religious traditions.
I am not alone in believing that LR-121 takes Montana in the wrong direction. Leaders of churches attending the Montana Association of Churches Annual Assembly, including Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Methodist and United Church of Christ leaders, joined in opposition to LR-121.
Our opposition to LR-121 grows out of the conviction that justice, mercy, compassion and hospitality are the pillars of our faith and should be expressed in our public life. Our sacred texts direct us to welcome the stranger and to love our neighbor; LR-121 is not in line with those values. With the number of undocumented people in Montana estimated to be a mere 4,000, it seems particularly harsh for our state to establish policies that would place their every move under scrutiny.
LR-121 would roll back the Montana laws under which this small group of people have access to unemployment insurance, higher education and certain medical services for victims of crime and people with disabilities. If passed, the referendum would also require all workers to have their work authorization verified by a costly, time-consuming, and often inaccurate federal database. Finally, it would require state employees to report individuals who do not appear to be documented, a misuse of state resources to enforce and expand broken federal immigration laws. Similar laws in Alabama and Arizona have been shown to hurt citizens and migrants alike by local economies, something our community cannot afford in tough economic times.
I stand with the other faith leaders from Montana Association of Churches in opposing LR-121. We call on public policy, civic leaders, and all Montanans to support legislation and policies that are humane and just towards immigrants. We encourage Montanans to embrace the value “love thy neighbor and vote “against” LR-121.
Bishop Jessica Crist of the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America is from Great Falls.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20121103/OPINION/311030010/LR-121-counter-state-s-roots?nclick_check=1
