Thread: Church Leaders Pitch Comprehensive Immigration Reform Plan

These so called "elite" leaders just cannot resist the opportunity to impose their personal views regardless of the real cost to the rank and file of their organizations or society as a whole.

In a few minutes I am going to contact both the Liberty Counsel and Southern Baptist Convention and ask them to step up to the plate with their checkbook and offer to take on the complete financial obligation immigration represents. Obviously they are either selfish or do not realize that immigration is not just about additional people in local pews. Immigration is a huge cost to taxpayers and those in the work force who are not highly skilled. Of course these organizations do not pay taxes or compete in the labor market. Besides illegal immigrants could be put in pews back in their home country if that is what truly matters.

I previously thought these organziations were focused on my religous traning and protecting my religious freedom. Unfortunately, it appears they are more interested in builidng a constituency or a business without having to pay for it.

Since my family no longer holds a Southern Baptist Church membership I cannot withhold tything at this point but I have donated to the Libery Counsel and that money just got reallocated to ALIPAC (not a lot but every bit counts).



http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/evangel ... ode=9E11-1

Evangelical Leaders Call for Increased Border Security, Immigration Reform
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 08:07 PM

Calling for a “just, rationalâ€

CHURCH = SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

No Thank you.

NO NO NO NO NO AMNESTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEN ARE YOU ADVOCATES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE AMERICANS DO NOT WANT AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS. FORGET IT. NO AMNESTY. JUST DEPORT THEM NOW.

HEEEELLLLLLL NO!

[quote]“Secure borders are not closed borders,â€

Below is an open letter from the Liberty Counsel Website. It explains the framework of their position in some detail.

Of course they do not tackle the issue of how this will effect citizens and legal immigrants. How will your employment opportunities and taxes be effected? (not them because they operate tax free---kind of like a lot of illegal aliens and their employers do). Despite the extreme patronizing tone that the letter takes it does not tell us how social security will be impacted by legalizing a claim to benefits for millions of low wage undocumented workers or the fraud that will occur to obtain taxpayer funded social benefits. What about the cost of obamacare, who is going to subsidize that for millions of unskilled low wage workers? What about the increased expense of multiple languages being used prominately in education, government etc. Notice they fell short of callling for English as the National Language and an end to multi language requirements. I could go on and on. Instead I will just end with these two items.

1. Notice the use of the word just. They can put whatever lipstick they want
to on that term but it means social justice and when social justice is the
goal the rule of law and those who play by the rules are always the victim.
2. They seek to define amnesty in their terms. Really, it is obvious they are
not experts on the dynamics of the issue yet they want to be responsible
for the terminology.

And for the last damn time, The United States of America is not a nation of immigrants it is a nation of laws!



www.LC.org

May 11, 2010

Evangelical Leaders Unite on Just Assimilation Immigration Policy


Washington, DC – The crisis the country is witnessing in Arizona over immigration is the result of a failed immigration policy at the federal level. Arizona lawmakers felt compelled to act because the federal government would not. We do not agree that the Arizona law was the wisest course of action because immigration is a federal and not a state responsibility. It is the federal government’s failure that has led to the current crisis. The Arizona law is a symptom and a cry for help.

The immigration debate does not belong to a political party. We believe that it is a moral issue. While there are many aspects of immigration and no one single solution to the problem, we unite to affirm common ground while recognizing there must be candid and open debate on the details. And while we acknowledge that there will be significant details on which not everyone will agree, we should avoid the temptation of using the passions surrounding the immigration issue to engage in destructive rhetoric for the purposes of political posturing.

Our national security and domestic tranquility depends on secure borders. We must first secure our borders before we can implement a broader just assimilation immigration policy. Secure borders are not closed borders. Violent criminals and drug traffickers take advantage of open borders. Such criminals are a threat to everyone in every community, including Latinos who are disproportionately victimized by them.

After securing our borders, we should allow the millions of undocumented and otherwise law-abiding persons living in our midst to come out of the shadows. The pathway for earned legal citizenship or temporary residency should involve a program of legalization for undocumented persons in the United States, subject to appropriate penalties, waiting periods, background checks, evidence of moral character, a commitment to full participation in American society through an understanding of the English language, the rights and duties of citizens and the structure of America’s government, and the embrace of American values.

We must return to a rational immigration policy that acknowledges that we are both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. It is our obligation to provide a just solution to those people who are currently undocumented under the present policy. That solution is neither amnesty nor mass deportation. A just, rational policy would put otherwise law-abiding undocumented persons on one of three paths: one path leads to pursuing earned legal citizenship or legal residency, one leads to acquiring legal guest-worker status, and one leads back across the border including a swift process for the deportation of undocumented felons.

America has an obligation to preserve within her borders the culture that has made her successful. Assimilation is both key to protecting that culture and to the immigrant’s chances of success. History has proven that Latinos are quite capable of rapid assimilation. As a group, they have strong moral convictions, a strong sense of family, and a strong work ethic.

A just assimilation immigration policy respects the traditions held by people of many backgrounds that make up America while recognizing the importance of a shared language, history and cultural values. Those who choose legal citizenship should have the opportunity to fully participate in the American dream by removing any barrier to achieving those dreams. America is not a nation divided. There should be no Black America, White America, Latino America, or Asian America. There is one America made up of many races and ethnicities with a common history, culture, and values. Although Americans may speak many different languages, they share English as their common language. The immigration process should provide a just assimilation by teaching English, the history and founding documents of America, and the common values of liberty and justice which are embodied in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Naturalized citizens renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and declare allegiance to the United States. They pledge to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and they pledge to support the Constitution and the laws of the United States.

Let us be clear – an earned pathway to citizenship is not amnesty. We reject amnesty. And we ask those who label an earned pathway to citizenship as amnesty to stop politicizing this debate needlessly and to honestly acknowledge the difference.

For those who do not wish to become citizens, we should make available a temporary residency or worker visa. In order to survive, some people enter this country illegally because they cannot obtain a temporary worker visa. Once here, they are caught between a rock and a hard place. If they leave they may not be able to return. If they stay, they are forced to live in the shadows. A temporary worker visa recognizes the need of domestic companies and the free market to employ people from field workers to engineers. For those immigrants not wishing to become citizens, there should be similar penalties, waiting periods, and background checks prior to the provision of guest worker visas. We must enforce our immigration laws against employers that illegally hire and exploit undocumented workers.

The time to forge a rational consensus is now. America is a country of immigrants, a melting pot of individuals from various ethnicities and cultures. It is based on the rich heritage of immigration on which this country was established, and, in accordance with a just immigration policy, this country will continue to thrive. America deserves a just immigration policy; one that begins with securing, not closing, our borders, one that provides a temporary guest-worker program, and one that offers a pathway for earned legal citizenship or temporary residency.

We are compelled by our common faith and heritage to acknowledge that the history of immigration is filled with stories of triumph and tragedy. While Latinos are often the subject of today’s immigration debate, nearly every American today can trace their ancestry to one or many foreign lands. America’s astounding success can be largely attributed to the fact that we are a nation of immigrants and we have proven to the world that people from diverse backgrounds can come to America, live in peace with their neighbors, pursue their dreams, and succeed. The overwhelming attraction of America is her freedom. As the world’s standard-bearer for freedom, America’s light shines as hope for the world. We must never quench the torch of liberty. We must always stand for the freedom that makes our shores the object of desire for people without hope. America must always stand for liberty. It is the privilege of a freedom-loving people.

The following evangelical leaders affirm this statement on Immigration: Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the largest Hispanic Christian organization in the country representing over 16 million people in 31,000 churches; Dr. Richard Land, President of The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, comprised of more than 16 million people in 42,000 churches; Bishop George McKinney, Ph.D., D.D., the founder and pastor of St. Stephen’s Cathedral of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and member of the General Board of COGIC, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the country and the second largest African-American denomination with more than 5 million people; Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel; Hon. Kenneth Blackwell, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations on Human Rights; Lou Engle, Co-founder, TheCall to Conscience, and more.


Mathew Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

Bishop George McKinney, Ph.D., D.D.
Founder and Pastor
St. Stephen’s Cathedral COGIC
General Board
Church of God in Christ

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
President
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Hon. Kenneth Blackwell
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations on Human Rights

Dr. Richard Land
President
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee
Southern Baptist Convention

Lou Engle
Co-founder
TheCall to Conscience

Folks I am sorry, but this is a direct violation of IRS tax laws with non profit groups. Why is this allowed to happen? What can we do to make sure these churches are held accountable and the IRS does it's job?

All IRC section 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches
and religious organizations, must abide by certain rules:

â–* their net earnings may not inure to any private
shareholder or individual,
â–* they must not provide a substantial benefit to private
interests,
â–* they must not devote a substantial part of their
activities to attempting to influence legislation,
â–* they must not participate in, or intervene in, any
political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to)
any candidate for public office, and
â–* the organization’s purposes and activities may not
be illegal or violate fundamental public policy


A church or religious organization will be regarded as
attempting to influence legislation if it contacts, or urges
the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative
body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or
opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the
adoption or rejection of legislation.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

Interesting stuff BIGTEX.

This situation is breaking my heart because I have long supported the Liberty Counsel. However, I value the rule of law and my country more than whatever agenda they or these other so called evangelical leaders may have at this time.

I recall that in the last year or two they talked in glowing terms of their new Washington D.C. facilities. Yea, and maybe that is a sign they have gone "mainstream" and are now earning their stripes as part of the powerful elite.

I don't know, I am just mad as you know what and feel betrayed. What the h e double ll does comprehensive immigration reform have to do with my Religious Freedom which is what they represented their advocacy was based on.

When I called them this afternoon I could only speak with the receptionist. Poor lady. It is probably best to just send a letter responding to their letter and pointing out where they should consider additional points and ultimately reconsider their support period.

One thing is for sure. This is the most politically ignorant move I have ever witnessed. It makes you wonder why the GOP needs enemies when they have friends like these.



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Liberty Counsel is a nonprofit litigation, education and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family. Established in 1989, Liberty Counsel is a nationwide organization with offices in Florida, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and hundreds of affiliate attorneys across the Nation.

Recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization, Liberty Counsel is funded by donations from concerned individuals, churches and organizations across the country. Donations to this ministry are tax-deductible.

Liberty Counsel provides pro bono legal assistance in the areas of religious liberty, the sanctity of human life and the family. Educational material available through Liberty Counsel includes informational brochures addressing students' and teachers' rights on public school campuses, political activity of nonprofit organizations, and many more.

Liberty Counsel sends a Liberty Alert email to inform subscribers about breaking news, and publishes a newsletter to overview current cases impacting religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family.

Liberty Counsel produces a daily radio program, Freedom's Call, a weekly radio program, Faith & Freedom, and a thirty-minute weekly television program, Law & Justiceâ„¢, all of which deal with various legal and policy issues.

The Liberty Center for Law & Policy (LCLP) operates as one component of Liberty Counsel’s training, education and public policy program. With offices in Washington, D.C. and on the campus of Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia, the LCLP trains attorneys, law students, policymakers, legislators, clergy and world leaders in constitutional principles and government policies.

From the inception of our litigation until 2004, Liberty Counsel has been blessed with an 86% win ratio. Since 2004, we have won 92% of cases. Nearly every case is unique, precedential, and many contain issues that have never been tried in the history of our country. These are not routine cases, and many times our victories have a direct impact on the culture and the future of America. A very small sample of legal victories include:

So we have this so-called conservative group pushing amnesty, as well as the very liberal SEIU who has just announced they will be focusing on amnesty.

Strange bedfellows indeed -- and the only ones left out of this equation are American citizens who continue to oppose amnesty by wide margins.

We must stay active and keep our voices heard.

This is from the recent Zogby poll that shows how clueless and elitist Land the others are:
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When asked to choose between enforcement that would cause illegal immigrants to go home over time or a conditional pathway to citizenship, most members of religious communities choose enforcement.

•Catholics: 64 percent support enforcement to encourage illegals to go home; 23 percent support conditional legalization.

•Mainline Protestants: 64 percent support enforcement; 24 percent support conditional legalization.

•Born-Again Protestants: 76 percent support enforcement; 12 percent support conditional legalization.

•Jews: 43 percent support enforcement; 40 percent support conditional legalization.

---

Full poll results, more detail, and context here about those Evangelical leaders that support amnesty here:

http://www.cis.org/ReligionAndImmigrationPoll