Photo: Speakers: Rev. John McCullough, Rabbi Saperstein, Bishop Carcano, Fr. Hoyos
For Immediate Release
April 10, 2013
Contact: Rev. Noel Andersen
nandersen@
Nationally Renowned Faith Leaders Across Traditions Call for Commonsense Immigration Reform
(Washington DC) As tens of thousands of people rallied infront of the capitol building on April 10th, nationally renowned faith leaders across traditions opened the rally with a prayer service to bless the movement for immigrant justice and call upon policy makers to pass a just and humane immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship.
Bishop Carcano spoke at the event, “For too long immigrant families have been separated by a broken and unjust immigration system. It is time for immigration reform that truly represents our commitment to the importance of family. Every family including immigrant families deserve compassion and justice. We United Methodists join other persons of faith and good will in strongly advocating for comprehensive immigration reform that reunites immigrant families and provides them with a pathway to citizenship.“
The interfaith delegation had six speakers from Protestant, Catholic, Muslim and Jewish traditions. Forty clergy from across the country gathered behind the speakers, holding signs reading “Family Unity” and “Love Your Neighbor”in multiple languages.
Church World Service President and CEO, Rev. John L.McCullough also spoke, saying “Church World Service is pleased to be part of this movement of tens of thousands families who have the same values as CWS that all people should be treated with dignity and given their human rights. Today we have joined a chorus of voices from all traditions calling out for family unity and a pathway to citizenship. Our prayers were heard across the country, now its time for Congress to do their job and not delay, the time is now!”
Fr. Jose E. Hoyos, Director for the Spanish Apostolate at the Diocese of Arlington, who is very well known amonglocal Virginia Latino groups, had this to say, “The difficulties and sufferings of immigrants, especially our undocumented brothers and sisters, are similar to those experienced in the Gospel and that have never been ignored by the Church. Our belief in our Catholic faith is acharacteristic of the Church and the vocation to which we must respond as believers. The presence of immigrants since the early history of the United States provides an opportunity for the Church and must be seen as a grace that helps us fulfill the calling to be a sign, factor, and model of Catholicism for this demanding world.”
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of The Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism m
ade the point that 36 times in the Torah we are reminded of the imperative “v-ahavtem et ha-ger,” to love the stranger.“Thirty-six times for the 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows of our society, for the 5,000 children living in foster care because their parents were detained or deported, he said. “Today we come together from many traditions to stand united for commonsense immigration reform now!”
The April 10 mobilization highlighted the unique partnership between faith, labor and civil rights group. The faith voice has historically stood in solidarity with immigrants, , and is urging their members of congress tochampion just and humane immigration reform.
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