Thread: Church members deported on retreat

Church members deported on retreat
Valley ministers plan meeting on situation
Yvonne Wingett

Word of the weekend deportations of members of a Phoenix church who were on a retreat near Prescott chilled Valley pastors, whose churches are filled with thousands of Hispanics and undocumented immigrants.

Pastors worry the deportations could discourage undocumented immigrants from worshiping in public and could force ministers to change the way they counsel members about their faith.

“This is telling us that maybe they won’t allow us to have religious freedom, as we like to do retreats,â€

Campers at the White Spar Campground called the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office to complain the group was singing and had music on in the middle of the night, according to a sheriff’s spokesman on Saturday. Officers arrived at the campgrounds around 7 a.m.

They had no consideration for others at the campground who might have been sleeping. What did they think was going to happen? Violating noise ordinances wouldn't apply to them? Should've thought of that before disturbing the peace. Good job, Sheriff!

[quote]“We cannot encourage people to go camping any more,â€

Pastors worry the deportations could discourage undocumented immigrants from worshiping in public and could force ministers to change the way they counsel members about their faith.





I hate to say this, but something needed to discourage this.

I'm at a loss to explain the particular phenomenon but these "churches" run by illegals-for illegals seem to be very commonplace and they do conduct them mainly in public.

Right now we've even got a problem with a tenant here who, despite repeated complaints by other tenants and people from the surrounding area, persists in holding two "services" per day on Wednesdays and Sundays....complete with rows of chairs lined up in the street in front of his home, a band, and everything being broadcast for, literally, blocks around through towers of loud speakers. Regular attendance is about 50 people with more showing up all the time.

And that's just here......we've heard of these groups descending upon parks, campgrounds, and even resorts after renting rooms and then just taking it upon themselves to set up the whole kit and caboodle outside on the grounds and proceeding to start holding their services. And they could care less who they are disturbing or the fact that by these loud, public displays they are forcing their religious views and teachings upon others.

Because of the nature of how these things are carried out, my husband has taken to jokingly refering to them as "Jesus Raves".

What in the world is going on with this, I've no idea but I've never seen anything quite like it

28 comments left so far at the source link.
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Pearce to Church: "You Can't Break the Law"
April 15th, 2008 @ 6:22am
by Bob McClay/KTAR

One state lawmaker says there should be no exceptions made about those who violate immigration laws.

Mesa Republican Russell Pearce says Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies who detained members of a Phoenix-area church group did the right thing.

That's because they're suspected illegal immigrants, and the fact they may have been praying at the time doesn't matter. "This isn't what it's about," he says. "These are sanctuary movements who use great titles, sound like they're religious titles - in reality they exist for one reason - to promote illegal activity."

The group was attending a church retreat near Prescott.

Deputies were called by others at the campground who say the group was too loud.

"I'm sure some of those open border folks have a prayer occasionally too. Some of them are probably good people. But what they're doing is breaking the law. And it doesn't matter who you are, you can't break the law."

Pearce accuses the Christiana Agape Church of being a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

"They're movements who undermine the rule of law. They're movements that help encourage, aid and abet illegal aliens in direct violation of federal law," says Pearce.

Church members will tell their side of the story at a press conference Tuesday.

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=807548