Thread: Protesters continue fight at church over immigrant

Protesters continue fight at church over immigrant
Illegal immigrant given sanctuary
By Cheri Carlson (Contact)
Monday, July 28, 2008


Jim Ibbotoson, carrying two American flags and an anti-illegal immigration sign, protests outside the United Church of Christ in Simi on Sunday. Ibbotoson and others are angry the church gave refuge to an illegal immigrant and her son last year. The church is calling for "humane immigration reform."

A group of anti-illegal immigration protesters stood outside a Simi Valley church Sunday morning waving American flags, marking nearly a year of weekly demonstrations there.

The United Church of Christ began sheltering an Oxnard woman named Liliana last August, as part of a national faith-based movement to shelter and offer legal aid to unauthorized immigrants at risk of being deported. After turning to churches for help, Liliana first found sanctuary with an Episcopal congregation in Long Beach, and then in August at the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley, where she moved with her infant son. She won't reveal her last name for fear of repercussions to her family.

Her story has garnered national attention, and has drawn three or four protesters who regularly stand outside the church during its Sunday service, armed with signs and flags and sometimes yelling out to church members as they pass by.

The larger than usual group of about two dozen filled the sidewalk to mark the first anniversary since protests began outside the Long Beach church, and some people honked as they drove by the colorful scene.

"Nothing is going to happen if we don't continue making a stand," said Chelene Nightingale, media and events director for Save Our State, a group that organized this week's larger protest.

Inside, Liliana, who continues to live in a former parsonage at the church, and her family attended the regular weekly service along with some supporters, including actor Martin Sheen and a group of Aztec dancers who had shown up unexpectedly and later performed.

Church officials released a written statement Sunday, saying, "More and more people support our ongoing hospitality with Liliana and her family, as part of The New Sanctuary Movement ... now active in over 20 cities."

The church and others are calling for "humane, immigration reform" on behalf of Liliana's three young children — who like her husband are all U.S. citizens — and other children whose parents are facing deportation.

They are working with attorneys to make sure families in sanctuary have a fair hearing, according to the statement, and plan to continue their efforts.

That makes Lupe Ostolia Moreno of Santa Ana see red.

"Illegal immigration, to me, is totally wrong," Moreno said, standing outside the church Sunday morning, her top covered in buttons with messages such as "Amnesty betrays citizens," and "No more invasion."

Moreno started coming to Simi Valley last August, when she heard Liliana had moved there from Long Beach. The drive takes nearly two hours each way, but she's made the trek nearly every week since.

"We have a group of people who think they're above our laws, which they're not," she said.

"Ever since I found out they're doing this, I have been fighting to stop illegal immigration."

This Sunday, however, will be her last. She has no plans to give up protesting illegal immigration but will no longer spend her Sundays in Simi Valley.

"I've sacrificed a year," Moreno said, "and some of the other people in the movement need to come out here until she's deported."

Church officials invited those who disagree with them to consider why the congregation has become a sanctuary church, according to their statement.

"Our congregation follows the teaching of Jesus in welcoming the stranger and breaking down walls of division and difference," they wrote.
http://www.venturacountystar.com:80/new ... urch-over/

Church officials released a written statement Sunday, saying, "More and more people support our ongoing hospitality with Liliana and her family, as part of The New Sanctuary Movement ... now active in over 20 cities."

LOL yeah right. If that were true, what's she doing in your "sanctuary"? More and more people are NOT supporting your harboring of illegal aliens. We are sick and tired of these criminals thinking they can pick and chose which laws to obey. How's membership at this "sanctuary" church going? Donations up or down?

Church officials invited those who disagree with them to consider why the congregation has become a sanctuary church, according to their statement.

"Our congregation follows the teaching of Jesus in welcoming the stranger and breaking down walls of division and difference," they wrote.

That statement should read, "Our congregation ignores the teachings of the Bible regarding acceptance of the authority of government, and places itself above the law. We consider all strangers to our land welcome and deserving of our protection in the name of Jesus, be they invited guest or criminal. After all, what is the difference between an illegal alien and an unjustly accused citizen of our community except for the petty fact that the illegal is guilty of breaking our laws. We demand forgivness replace justice! "

It is outrageous that churches allow themselves to get involved like this. Can't the congregations see they are being used as a shield against justice? Where is the righteousness in that?

One would think the church would have the parsonage full of illegals by now. I wonder why the others haven't come?

Any church or publically supported non profit orgnanization that finanically and/or openly supports amnesty or calls themselves a "sanctuary for illegals" must lose their special status and monetary benefits as they have violated the church vs state clause.

Further, the congregations of all churchs must ask for a written statement by their church about their stand on illegal immigration, and if they support it, the congregations needs to leave the church.

The churchs that support illegals will be hard pressed to run their church on the donations from groups like LA RAza, ACLU and the Chamber of Commerce.

Church officials released a written statement Sunday, saying, "More and more people support our ongoing hospitality with Liliana and her family, as part of The New Sanctuary Movement ... now active in over 20 cities."

I could careless about the traitors and wackos who support your "hospitality" to this illegal invader! The fact of the matter is, law enforcement should not be so 'hospitable.' They should go into that church and remove this scofflaw and deport her and her family.

It's an outrage that this woman and her supporters are being allowed to thumb their nose at the law simply because they have chosen to use a church as their method of avoidance..