Thread: OK: Churches: Worshippers in hiding

By Carla Hinton
Religion Editor

When the Rev. Leonel Blanco looks out into the pews of his south Oklahoma City church on Sundays, he sees only half the number of his predominantly Hispanic congregation.


Attendance at Blanco's Santa Maria Virgen, called the fastest-growing church in the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, has dwindled sharply — a 50 percent decrease that Blanco blames on the Oklahoma immigration reform law that goes into effect Thursday. "Four months ago, this church was very full, but now the people are nervous. They don't like going out,â€

[quote="Carla Hinton, Religion Editor"]Religious leaders say immigrants have a right to migrate to improve their quality of life, but Terrill said it is not that simple.

‘A higher law' cited
The Rev. Anthony Taylor, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2706 S Shartel, said he considers the reform law to be sinful because it proposes to take away what he considers a God-given right of human dignity.
"People have a right to immigrate where circumstances so require. They do so as their God-given right,â€

[quote]"They dangerously confuse the concept of personhood and citizenship,â€

[quote="BetsyRoss"][quote]"They dangerously confuse the concept of personhood and citizenship,â€