Posted on Mon, Feb. 18, 2008
Protestant bishops issue statement on immigration
Associated Press

TOPEKA | Leaders of three Protestant denominations are calling on Kansans to reject fear and heated political rhetoric when dealing with immigration.

Issuing the statement are Bishops Dean Wolfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas; Scott Jameson Jones of the Kansas Area United Methodist Church; and Gerald Mansholt of the synod covering Kansas and Missouri in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

They acknowledged that respect for the law is crucial and that the Bible commands believers to respect and obey government authorities. However, they said, the U.S. economy depends upon immigrant labor and federal and state laws do not reflect that reality.

The bishops noted that the New Testament commands Christians to love their neighbors.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics ... 94929.html
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US bishops criticize immigration policies

Washington, Feb. 18, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Two American Catholic bishops have suggested changes in US immigration regulations, saying that current policies are unfair to immigrants and their families.

Bishop John Wester, the chairman of the US bishops' committee on migration; and Bishop Jaime Soto, the chairman of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, made their suggestions in a letter ot Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. They argued that more vigorous enforcement effort by the Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency (ICE) have taken a toll on immigrant families.

The bishops asked that ICE suspend enforcement during times of natural disasters, and said that the agency should not patrol for illegal immigrants near churches, hospitals, or schools. They asked for greater protection of the legal rights of those detained for illegal immigration.

Earlier his month Bishop Wester had sharply criticized the economic-stimulus package approved by Congress because it does not provide tax rebates to illegal immigrants. That approach, the bishop said, "reveals the hypocrisy of our laws" because illegal immigrants pay taxes but do not enjoy the benefit of the rebates.
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=56679