Faith leaders demand end to immigrant raids

As clergy in cities impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, we object to federal government action that has broken up families, left children abandoned and traumatized whole communities. Our congregations are committed to protecting those in need, but we should not need to shelter young children asking "Where is my mother? Where is my father?"

While there are different perspectives on how to fix our immigration system, we can all agree that the recent mass raids harmed the stability of our communities and families. This is the wrong way to enforce immigration rules.

Those who have been detained and those left behind are mothers, fathers, children, wives, husbands, and others responsible for holding families together. Nearly two-thirds of all undocumented families have children who are U.S. citizens by birth, including many of the children left behind after the recent raids. Our shared respect for humanity and our faith in the promise of a better future calls us to do better.

Faith leaders call for

1) President Bush to direct the Department of Homeland Security to halt the raids immediately and to reunite families; and

2) Congress to hold hearings to investigate ICE behavior.

Let's honor God's call to protect children and not make them victims in the fight over immigration policy. If we work together as faith communities, we can help find common ground that honors our nation's commitment to fairness and family.

Rev. Richard Wilson, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, New Bedford

Rev. William Bradbury, Grace Episcopal Church, New Bedford

Rev. John J. Oliveira, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, New Bedford

Rev. Msgr. John J. Oliveira, St. Mary Church, New Bedford

Rev. Stanley J. Kolasa, Our Lady of the Assumption Church, New Bedford

Rev. Dan Harper, First Unitarian Church in New Bedford

Rev. Elizabeth Grundy, Christ Church (Episcopal), Swansea

Rev. Marc H. Bergeron, St. Anne Church, Fall River

Rev. Donald S. Mier, First Baptist Church, Fall River

Rabbi Raphael Kanter, Tifereth Israel Congregation, New Bedford

Rev. Dr. Charles K. Hartman, First Baptist Church in Swansea

Fr. Roger Landry, St. Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford

Rev. James Hornsby (emeritus), St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Fall River

United Interfaith Action, New Bedford

Editor's note: A few additional clergy signed the letter but could not be reached for confirmation.

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Just a few questions fellas and ma'am.

1) When drug dealers, car thieves, counterfeiters, embezzlers, prostitutes and other criminals break the law and are incarcerated is it the police who break up their families? Surely the priests, pastors, rabbis and reverends are not suggesting that people can and should illegally invade the nation, steal identification which harms the citizen it was stolen from, evade taxes, take jobs that could have helped Americans in their own home towns, drive around in uninsured & unregistered vehicles while unlicensed, drain taxpayer funds meant for those within a registered population who may find themselves in need of help, without any resistance from the law  are they?

2) Wouldn't we all agree that those who infract the law are the ones responsible for any separation of family members? Last time I checked, Jesus told his followers to obey the laws of the lands they go into. "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," well the Constitution is the law of the land so give the authority their due. Christ commands it. As for the Rabbi, please explain why Israel is excused for its vigilance in ensuring security and sovereignty for the sons and daughters of Abraham but America must buckle and fold as a nation if it means having laws that require permission to enter and join. I don't agree that American security has to part like the Red Sea for anyone and everyone who wants to enter. Let's not forget some are here to kill, rape and steal. Small minority or not, we have a right to check out and deny anyone we want to.


3) If the ICE agents contacted the Governor's office and urged state officials to make preparations for displaced children due to the arrests of their parents, and I believe they did warn Gov. Patrick and D.S.S. to be ready, why does this collection of clergy accuse ICE Special Agent in Charge, Bruce Foucart of  "federal government action that has broken up families, left children abandoned and traumatized whole communities"? Please share with the public your investigative findings which has concluded that Massachusetts was not provided with adequate advanced knowledge to ensure a minimal trauma on those the raid would effect. It seems to me you have tried, judged and condemned some without knowing the facts. Please explain yourselves now that you have decided to take this role.

4) How can you in the clergy demand Congress  hold hearings to investigate ICE behavior? 366 arrests and not one injury. Law enforcement enforcing the law. I'm ashamed to think that all of you are simply parroting the talking points of illegal immigrant advocates such as U Mass Dartmouth Labor Education Center Director  Jose Soler, who is better defined in truth as being a current  Communist editorial contributor and, according to his late wife's obituary found in the Communist publication People's Weekly World, he is also a former leader of the Puerto Rican Socialist Party which has a history of terrorism against the United States, and which is also funded by El Presidente` Fidel Castro of Cuba. In addition to revealing just who it is that has your ears, The Coalition Against Poverty and The Coalition For Social Justice, who you have decided to align yourselves with, have, in recent past,  praised the "fragging" (killing) of US military officers in Vietnam by enlisted G.I.s in their publication. These groups are funded by radical, international far left entities which you had better be prepared to justify your comradery with.
   I should point out that while you Catholic Priests (which is my faith as well) are showing the vertebrae against the laws of America and those who enforce them, you allowed liberal Democratic legislators and a governor  who are all pro-choice and aggressive abortion advocates and each pro-same sex marriage to enter onto your church grounds, accuse, postulate and condemn others as they walked around at St. James ( Our Lady of Guadalupe) which has a large sign condemning abortion. Where was the leadership then? Are you now in agreement with them on these issues as well?  I do know you have asked your former coalition chair to resign over his resistance to same sex marriage and illegal immigration. This is an outrage and requires explaining. I for one wish you defended American babies made in God's image that are slaughtered in the womb thanks to Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barney Frank, Deval Patrick and Bill Delahunt, all who brazenly walked through the house of God without as much as a whisper uttered by any of you concerning what they have done to abortion laws in America and to each unborn human being killed as a result of their combined works. Couldn't you have shown at least half as much concern for the American babies as you are displaying for the children of illegal aliens?  I understand your concerns but not your inconsistant politics and baseless accusations towards a law enforcement entity that served the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States well on March 6, 2007.

I doubt I am worthy to be spoken of in the same breath as any of you on this list and I am admittedly not happy to admonish those who devote themselves to God but even the elect can be deceived so I do say this with respect and reverence. If you don't mind providing one for me and many others who are stunned by this letter, I do want an explanation for this political activism.