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Thread: UT: First United Methodist Church bans term ‘illegal immigrant’ as ‘dehumanizing’

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    Senior Member HAPPY2BME's Avatar
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    UT: First United Methodist Church bans term ‘illegal immigrant’ as ‘dehumanizing’

    First United Methodist Church bans term ‘illegal immigrant’ as ‘dehumanizing’

    Immigration » Debate over the volatile issues begins with the language used.

    By david montero | The Salt Lake Tribune



    (Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) Use of the term "illegal immigrant" has become a point of contention in the debate over immigration policy. Supporters of a ban on the term contend it is dehumanizing. In this file photo from 2011, Melodia Gutierrez uses a loud speaker as she leads hundreds of opponents to immigrations bills passed last year by the Legislature.

    The First United Methodist Church became the latest group making a push to eliminate using the term “illegal” when describing undocumented immigrants after its board passed a resolution to that effect.

    The Rev. Eun-sang Lee said after the 2010 elections, he saw terms like “anchor baby” and “illegal alien” used and decided it was time to focus attention on the words he believed were incorrect and offensive.

    “The use of dehumanizing and demonizing language is more than just a matter of bad manners,” Lee said. “It also violates our faith communities’ understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

    The church’s formal policy — which began March 12 — will forbid members to use the word “illegal” when describing undocumented immigrants in sermons, church services, church bulletins or any of its publications.

    Lee’s church joins the Catholic Church in steering away from that language.

    Jean Hill, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, said it’s not an official policy of the church, but terms like “illegal immigrant” or “illegal alien” haven’t been a part of written or verbal correspondence since 2003, when the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter explaining the plight and expected treatment of people migrating to the United States.

    Hill said using the word “illegal” to describe a person is “inappropriate.”

    “There is no such thing as an illegal human being,” Hill said.

    She said Utah has been seen as a driver nationally in taking a more humane approach to undocumented immigrants. She said with business, religious and political leaders signing The Utah Compact — along with Gov. Gary Herbert signing the nation’s first state-based guest-worker program set to take effect next year — the use of controversial language needed to catch up with state actions.

    And LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said his faith has no official standing policy on the language either.

    “While we don’t have an official policy, we have made it clear that everyone should be treated with respect,” Trotter said.

    Any ban on the term “illegal” is a tough sell for some.

    Ron Mortensen, co-founder of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration, said it came up with state Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, when he pitched HB300 — a failed attempt to replace the guest-worker law, HB116, this past legislative session.

    The proposal was titled “Illegal Alien Related Amendments,” and Mortensen thought they might get flak for using the word. However, he said after discussion with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, the supporters decided that “illegal alien” — which does appear in at least one place in Utah law — was the legally correct term.

    He said those fighting over the terminology are using it for ulterior motives.

    “It’s another way to define people who oppose illegal immigration as bigoted, racist or otherwise,” Mortensen said. “Because when you use the legally correct term, they don’t like it. It’s all gamesmanship and part of a public relations campaign.”

    In the Immigration and Nationality Act, the word “alien” is used to describe anyone who is not a citizen or national of the United States. However, under Act 237, the terms used are “inadmissible aliens” or “deportable aliens” for those unauthorized to be in the country.

    Monica Novoa, coordinator of the Drop the I-word Campaign, said the terms “illegal alien” and “illegal immigrant” aren’t legally correct and said in immigration court, those terms never crop up.

    “The judge doesn’t say, ‘Now I find you illegal,’ ” Novoa said. “It’s also judging someone before they’ve been judged. Calling folks illegal aliens is the equivalent of calling defendants at a trial ‘convicted criminals.’ ”

    Senate Minority Leader Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said he felt compelled to run a bill last session that would require newly-elected lawmakers to undergo cultural sensitivity training — including teaching them to avoid using terms like “illegal” to describe undocumented immigrants.

    The bill ultimately failed in a committee hearing, but Romero said he thinks the tide is shifting on the use of charged language in Utah.

    “I am encouraged,” Romero said. “This community should be sensitive to communities that are persecuted, and describing individuals with insensitive terms undermines our state’s history and culture.”

    source: First United Methodist Church bans term
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    The church’s formal policy — which began March 12 — will forbid members to use the word “illegal” when describing undocumented immigrants in sermons, church services, church bulletins or any of its publications.

    Excuse me! The word UNDOCUMENTED is a big fat LIE! Illegal aliens have documents and many if not most of them are FAKE! Fake documents are a lie! Lying is a sin.

    Mortensen said. “Because when you use the legally correct term, they don’t like it. It’s all gamesmanship and part of a public relations campaign.”

    The OBL's are so dense. Will someone please teach them that many, many words in the English language have more than one meaning? All they are doing is playing word games in order to deceive. That's a sin too.

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    That sign is so STUPID..."Who would Jesus Deport"...Really? Are they claiming LAW ABIDING Jesus, would somehow be "okay" with Law Breaking Criminals? Wow, thats a good one

    They need to go back wherever they are from and try reading some Law Books, then the Bible, and see what their stupid sign says then.

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    Nothing but Loud, Obnoxious Illegals trying to gain sympathy from simple minded americans who cant see through the BS...Not realizing they are being financially raped, and sadly in many cases it can be physically as well...

    Oh but low and behold a few American boys say "wheres your greencard" and people are in an uproar!...

    The REAL Racist are pictured right here in this photo/article

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    Senior Member MinutemanCDC_SC's Avatar
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    So the United Methodist Church and the Catholic Church condemn speaking the truth about illegal aliens
    and demand that people - including non-members and those not a part of the church, no less -
    not speak the truth about illegal aliens, but instead, use a euphemism which is a lie?

    That's really choice, ye Methodists and Catholics.
    Quote Originally Posted by the Lord Jesus Christ, in John 8:43-45
    Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

    I absolve myself of any connection with any church that forbids one to speak the truth and demands that one speak lies.
    One man's terrorist is another man's undocumented worker.

    Unless we enforce laws against illegal aliens today,
    tomorrow WE may wake up as illegals.

    The last word: illegal aliens are ILLEGAL!

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    Senior Member Kiara's Avatar
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    "The Rev. Eun-sang Lee said after the 2010 elections, he saw terms like “anchor baby” and “illegal alien” used and decided it was time to focus attention on the words he believed were incorrect and offensive."

    What would you call a bank robber, financially challenged? You break the law coming into this country, you are an illegal. We are not going to paint a pretty picture and sugar coat anything because they are offended. WE are offended by that! I'm tired of their whining and demands when they have no business being here, pick and choose which laws to follow and do whatever the hell they please and get away with it.

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    The church is caled the Centenary Unied Methodist Church and it part of the GLOBAL Ministries.
    Centenary United Methodist Church


    United Methodist Board Features Anti-Israel Message in Newsletter
    “It’s time for Palestine.”

    That’s the title of a recent article featured in the newsletter of the General Board of Church and Society, the advocacy wing of the United Methodist Church. And as the title insinuates, the article is very anti-Israel.

    For example, just two paragraphs in, author Rev. John Calhoun talks about the recent wave of democracy sweeping the Middle East. “Unfortunately,” he writes, “one state’s undemocratic, militaristic rule over millions of civilians suffering under its administration looks likely to continue unchallenged. That state is Israel, and those living under its illegitimate control are the Palestinians of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.” [Emphasis added]

    He continues: “As the world applauds heroic freedom fighters standing up to dictators and fraudulent presidents across the Middle East, widespread support for the Palestinian people’s aspirations to live free from Israeli occupation is faint.”


    Then there’s another, “United Nations Resolutions on the Israel-Palestine Conflict.” Calhoun explains:
    Even more significant is Resolution 6074, “United Nations Resolutions on the Israel-Palestine Conflict.” It was adopted by General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body, in 2000, then revised and readopted in 2008. It states, “The United Methodist Church calls upon Israel, the Palestinian National Authority, and all States to abide by and uphold U.N. resolutions, International Court of Justice rulings, and international law as the basis for just and lasting peace in Palestine/Israel.”
    That‘s important considering what we’ve been told about the United Methodist Church in a previous article on this site. Last fall, the Board was a major supporter of the controversial “One Nation” rally — a gathering of progressives, Democrats, and even socialists — in Washington, D.C. Then, we were told that just because the Board took a position on an issue, that couldn’t be construed as representing the position of the entire church, since the church’s positions are only determined by the general council. But according to Calhoun, the church has taken an official position on the Isreali-Palestinian conflict. And it’s not supportive of Israel.

    That’s also supported by how Calhoun interprets the resolutions for all United Methodists. He says the position of the church is “clear:”
    The denomination affirms the will of the international community, expressed through U.N. Security Council resolutions, the Fourth Geneva Convention and other international law instruments, in condemning the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territory. The denomination opposes continued Israeli settlement building on occupied Palestinian territory. The church stands with the Palestinian Christian community, and supports Palestinian efforts towards economic and political self-determination. [Emphasis added]
    As a next step, Calhoun encourages United Methodists to take part in an upcoming, week-long event called “World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel.” A quick look at the event’s website reveals more anti-Israel rhetoric (couched in discussions of “peace”):




    According to Calhoun, the event encourages participants to pray for Jerusalem. But he also describes opportunities for “political advocacy” and says the event will allow “church members to be further educated about the conflict, and to teach others about the need to end the injustices.” [Emphasis added]

    And if the church‘s position wasn’t clear already, Calhoun concludes: “The United Methodist Church stands for an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine, and for political self-determination for its people.”
    Blaze
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    Totalitarianism in the church! No big surprise. Same thing happened with King George as he oppressed the colonies and the same thing happened in some of the churches with the reign of Adolf Hitler. Thought police must control what you can or cannot say. Must have control and not let anyone describe the situation truthfully or accurately as that would destroy the illusion of their control.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ShawnX5 View Post
    That sign is so STUPID..."Who would Jesus Deport"...Really? Are they claiming LAW ABIDING Jesus, would somehow be "okay" with Law Breaking Criminals? Wow, thats a good one

    They need to go back wherever they are from and try reading some Law Books, then the Bible, and see what their stupid sign says then.
    I wouldn't pay much attention to anyone who uses religion as a means of explaining why something is right or wrong. Anyone can interpret any religious text as they see fit to support their view points or agenda. Why should we care what some dude, whether it be Jesus or Mohammed, thought? Do I care what the Easter Rabbit thinks? No! How about following the rule of law and then applying to scientific method for all other issues which cannot be addressed by law. The world would definitely be a better place. These church institutions which have hijacked society need to do away with its nonsense teachings and instead focus on what it does best (or at least try to) and that is helping those in need.

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