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Monday, July 26, 2010
7/29: Faith Groups to Hold Vigil Against Arizona SB1070 in Albuquerque
From the NM Faith Coaliltion for Immigrant Justice:
Albuquerque faith groups, along with hundreds across the United States, will hold a Vigil for Immigration Reform on Thursday, July 29th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at the First Congregational UCC (corner of Girard & Lomas, map). All are welcome to attend.
July 29, 2010 is the date that Arizona's law will go into effect, which has local law enforcement checking immigration status. The law has been condemned by faith groups around the world. The law has also been challenged by the US Dept of Justice, ACLU, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Tucson police officer Martin Escobar, and the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders."
July 26, 2010 at 12:45 PM in Border Issues, Civil Liberties, Events, Faith Community, Hispanic Issues, Immigration | Permalink
Comments
Faith groups are right to oppose this law. From my understanding, any Arizona church that (knowingly or un-knowingly) transports an illegal immigrant in a van to a church function can find themselves in huge trouble for "transporting an illegal immigrant". This interferes with freedom of religion and the Bible's mandate to love our neighbors.
--Lily Ribeiro (505stop)
Posted by: Lily Ribeiro | Jul 26, 2010 2:20:42 PM
Sorry, the right to not have one's religion infringed upon does not make illegal activity acceptable. And to love thy neighbor does not tell us to knowingly break the law. You can show the love in other ways. Maybe you can go to their country and give them all you have. I love my neighbor and will respect their property. Do those here illegally do that? We as a faith based nation should remember that helping someone break the law is not showing anyone love. Feeding someone and praying for them on their journey is love. We should call upon our leaders to make the tough decisions when it comes to security and we should pray for them.
Posted by: Sid | Jul 26, 2010 9:07:35 PM
If only misguided people like Sid would insist on the laws being enforced on people like corporate thieves, war profiteers and cops and vigilantes who treat human beings like animals. Instead he wants to go after hard working people lured here to work because Bush and the corporations decided they needed labor for cheap, who couldn't complain, organize or vote.
Why do you think so many "illegals" are in Arizona? Because Bush and his friends made a deal to look the other way so the big corporate owned hotels and "spas" could get maids, gardeners and other workers, and so the huge (and most unneeded) housing and commercial developments could get built during the fake housing bubble. Don't forget all those wealthy people basking in the Bush tax cuts for the rich who needed people to clean their toilets and wait on them hand and foot.
Now that the economy is in shambles because of the policies of Bush and his friends, Arizona wants the "illegals" out of the way without any care about what will happen to the people who slaved for low wages. Just get rid of them!
"Sid" also forgets the Jesus was closest to criminals, poor people, prostitutes and all the rest who have not gotten a fair shake. He didn't stay with and preach to rich people or businessmen or merchants. His people were the poorest of the poor who are mistreated by people with means, like "Sid."
Posted by: Real Christian | Jul 27, 2010 9:22:17 AM
"Sorry, the right to not have one's religion infringed upon does not make illegal activity acceptable. And to love thy neighbor does not tell us to knowingly break the law."
Yes. Yes, it does when the "law" is unjust and unenforcible. It is the Church responsibility to dissent and for Christians to even risk their lives on behalf of justice. They are called Martyrs.
There is a multitude of examples of this in history of Christian push back against repressive regimes.
Believe it that scapegoating is a primary component leading to a repressive authoritarian state.
Complacency in the face of oppression is not a Christian value. It is truly a test of faith to put Christian compassion of the oppressed before compliance with unjust law.
We should all pray that our leaders promote human dignity everywhere.
Posted by: qofdisks | Jul 27, 2010 9:40:56 AM
If only so called Real Christian would think about what they wrote instead of just throwing it out there it might make sense. If only I had "means" that you speak of. Raised poorer than most of these illegals I feel for they plight but it is not right to assist in breaking the law. Jesus was closest to criminals and helped them change their ways. So that argument doesn't work. Also, I am not defending President Bush and have never on this site. So that argument doesn't work. Having a human compasion is what we need but we need a solution to this problem and for any organization to support breaking the law when they cannot give a reason except that we live under a regime or a totalitarian state is just ignorant. Should we not use our chritian values to give our personal time and wealth, whatever it may be, to raise our neighbors out of oppression? Endorsing the breaking of rules gets us nowhere. I invite you to our parish to help set up shelters and community education programs. You don't have to give much. Just some time. There is a lot of love and compasionate people who are willing to help. Ten percent of your check goes a long way.
Posted by: Sid | Jul 27, 2010 10:40:36 PM
The point is the people were lured here by the President and his pals and hired by hotels, rich people, developers, restaurants, construction crews etc. THEY are the real lawbreakers. All the people were trying to do is feed their families after the U.S. and corporations screwed up the economy in Mexico. Anyone would do that.
Now they are here and arresting them is crazy. There are millions. We need comprehensive immigration reform but the Republicans and a few Democrats in Congress won't allow it. The Republicans don't want it to pass because they would lose one of their key wedge issues for this election cycle. You are seeing the wrong people as "criminals."
Posted by: Real Christian | Jul 27, 2010 11:08:30 PM
No one is going to be getting arrested unless they break another law. And I never defend corperate crime. But saying people who are successful are lawbreakers is kind of a weird argument unless you feel that success is a crime and those who succeed financially should give up their wealth or be forced to and I think that is another topic for antoher day.
So as Christians, both you and me, we should focus our attention on how we can help others not by endorsing criminal activity but like you write pushing for reform. We cannot sit on the sideline and endorse criminal activity because society must have structure and rules. The Church is run that way and so are other faiths.
Posted by: Sid | Jul 28, 2010 12:34:24 AM
You think the corporate "leaders" and others who hired undocumented workers in droves are "successful" heroes? They often payed for them to be transported across the border in horrible circumstances. Bush and his gangster mob made it happen for the good of the rich.
If you want to arrest the bad guys I hope you write to the authorities and suggest they check the records of all the big hotels, spas, developers, construction companies, luxury home builders, golf courses, expensive restaurants and bars and all the rich elites who live in Arizona in the winter and leave in summer. They hired all the workers for low pay and often treated them like dirt.
Now they want them out of their precious state because they don't like the brown faces and the economy is destroyed by the same selfish elites you are sticking up for. If you believe nobody will be arrested unless they break another law you must live in a dream world.
Cops already stop brown and black people for nothing and harass them and this will make it even easier. There are plenty of "crimes" they can pretend to stop them for like burnt out tail lights, spitting on the sidewalk, not maintaining a lane etc.
Posted by: Real Christian | Jul 28, 2010 9:09:20 AM
So cops are all racist. Now that's a stretch. Also the majority of the law is focused on the business that hire people who are here illegally. They do prey on these individauals and that is why we should support the law. And no. I never said people who hired illegals are heroes I believe they are also the problem that is why this law goes after them. But because anyone is succesfull does not make them a criminal. I would also like proof of these big companies paying to have these people shipped over because that would be a good story. They don't have to pay for people to come over there are already pleanty of people here willing to work. The argument is not that these are all bad people the argument is that they are not abiding by our laws and that without the proper reform it will continue. It is a problem but to use our faith a a crutch to endores breaking the law is wrong in my opinion.
Posted by: Sid | Jul 28, 2010 10:33:52 AM
I came across this post today and can't believe this comment thread.
It's so obvious that Sid doesn't understand the law, the constitution or what Bush and the Republicans have created during the last decade. No matter what anyone says he keeps defending racial profiling and blaming the victims for the crimes of the rich. He is the kind of voter that Republicans like. He is ignorant on the issues and willing to believe the right wing propaganda. He is working against his own interests and stubbornly so.
Posted by: William | Jul 28, 2010 11:31:52 AM
I understand the law as it is written and am not defending racial profiling. It's a moot point now so yo can go on hiring you illegal gardener and whatever you say they are good for. William obviously cannot read or comprehend what I write. The crimes of the rich? Those are not the topics we are discussing here. So get a grip. Anybody who breaks the law should be prosecuted. I have always stated that and illegal immigrants are not victims. Don't fool yourself. If they are victims of anything they are victims of their home nation and so they can go home and fight for justice.
And how do you know what my interests are? You don't have a clue. This piece is about hiding behind our collective faiths to endorse breaking our laws. READ it. It's a pretty decent debate.
Posted by: Sid | Jul 28, 2010 6:17:43 PM
