Just to be Clear: Fear-Mongering Politicians stand at odds with American Religious Communities on Syrian Refugees
Politicians: Whatever you do, do not say you’re protecting our country’s religious or national values by rejecting Syrian refugees.
Here’s what the chorus of religious voices in America is saying on the issue right now.
The US Council of Catholic Bishops calls for welcoming Syrian refugees:
BALTIMORE — Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee…www.usccb.org
The Union for Reform Judaism:
Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (a Shoulder to Shoulder member organization) issued a statement today opposing the bigoted rhetoric and action against Syrian refugees. Read the statement:
Contact: Max Rosenblum or Rachel Landman 202.387.2800 | [email protected] Washington, D.C., November 17, 2015 - In response…www.rac.org
The National Association of Evangelicals issued a statement:
“Of course we want to keep terrorists out of our country, but let’s not punish the victims of ISIS for the sins of ISIS…nae.net
10 Jewish groups signed onto a letter to Congress, calling for accepting Syrian refugees:
WASHINGTON ( JTA) - Ten Jewish groups are among 81 that sent a letter to Congress members urging them not to roll back…www.jta.org
An official from the Holocaust Museum made a statement calling for welcoming refugees as a duty:
As the U.S. debates the security implications of accepting refugees from the Syrian crisis, Americans should remember…www.bloombergview.com
Dr. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, spoke out against the lack of compassion in political rhetoric about refugees:
A leading voice on the religious right sharply criticized the "dangerous" anti-refugee sentiment that has permeated the…www.buzzfeed.com
The United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):
I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Then the…www.globalministries.org
The Islamic Society of North America:
(Plainfield, IN ) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is deeply concerned by the alarmist rhetoric of governors…www.isna.net
The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, issued a statement calling for compassion and moral responsibility in the face of the Syrian refugee crisis: “Yet, we Christians and all others of good will cannot let fear rule the day. Fear paralyzes, divides people, fosters distrust and clouds judgments.” Keep reading below:
The Jewish Orthodox Union:
The heinous attacks in Paris this week demonstrate that ISIS, and other similar militant Islamic terrorist groups, have…advocacy.ou.org
The National Council of Churches:
The National Council of Churches echoes and endorses the call of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service for the US…nationalcouncilofchurches.us
MPower Change, a grassroots Muslim organizing platform, issued a call to U.S. Governors to stop collectively punishing refugees in the wake of Paris & Beirut:
We are all horrified by the terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and other parts of the world and mourn the loss of…act.mpowerchange.org
The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church:
"As United Methodists, we know that fearful responses are not reflective of Christian life and witness. Instead, Christ…umc-gbcs.org
The Interfaith Alliance:
From Sojourners:
“Whether you like it or not, Christians are called to help the world’s most abused, hurt, helpless, exploited, and destitute.
If you’re a follower of Christ passionate about social justice, of if you attend a church that claims to be enthusiastic about global missions, or if you’re part of a Christian organization that facilitates ministry, you’ve been handed a golden opportunity — the ability to minister to millions of people in desperate need.”
If you're a follower of Christ passionate about social justice, of if you attend a church that claims to be…sojo.net
T’ruah, the rabbinic call for human rights, submitted testimony for a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Syrian refugees. From the statement: “Our historical experience as Jews in the United States teaches us the consequences of letting our fears dictate our policies towards those seeking refuge. 75 years ago, as Jewish refugees from the Nazis in Europe desperately sought a safe haven, elected officials in the United States spoke about the threat of Nazi infiltrators arriving on refugee boats, and spoke out against letting in so many Jews. Similar rhetoric about Muslim refugees is being used today, and similar fears are being used as excuses for refusing refuge to Syrians.” Keep reading:
November 19, 2015 T'ruah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Written testimony submitted for hearing on the Syrian…truah.org
The Friends Committee on National Legislation:
The temptation to react to violence with fear and more violence is strong. The recent terror attacks in Paris and…fcnl.org
The Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, issued a statement in response to the refugee backlash:
The Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, issued this statement in response to the…www.uua.org
And the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee issued a statement denouncing the passage of H.R. 4038 and the ongoing fear-mongering against refugees and Muslims:
WASHINGTON, D.C./Cambridge, Mass. - Friday November 20, 2015 - Human rights agency the Unitarian Universalist Service…www.uusc.org
Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal:
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ALEPH: ALLIANCE FOR JEWISH RENEWAL CONCERNING RESETTLEMENT OF SYRIAN REFUGEES…kolaleph.org
From Relevant Magazine:
There's a famous line C.S. Lewis' classic novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in which Mr. Beaver is asked by a…www.relevantmagazine.com
More Evangelical and Catholic perspectives:
“Of course we want to keep terrorists out of our country, but let’s not punish the victims of ISIS for the sins of ISIS…www.cnn.com
The Anti-Defamation League:
New York, NY, November 16, 2015 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said it was deeply disappointed that in the…www.adl.org
And the religious organizations (along with those that aren’t explicitly religious) that work on the front lines of refugee resettlement in the United States have spoken out against the political moves to punish Syrian refugees for Paris:
Church World Service
WASHINGTON - Responding to recent announcements of certain governors that they will not accept Syrian refugees for…www.cwsglobal.org
Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services
We are broken with grief at the senseless loss of life in Paris, as well as the deaths in Beirut, Egypt and across the…blog.lirs.org
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
(Washington, D.C.) November 17, 2015 - Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and the National Advocacy office of the Jesuit…www.jrsusa.org
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
Blog Post A group of more than 80 refugee and immigration law experts, humanitarian aid organizations, faith, labor and…www.hias.org
World Relief
Dozens of people squeezed inside Cafe K'Tizo in Wheaton last week to listen to a Syrian refugee tell the harrowing…www.dailyherald.com
Faith-based groups, who play a key role in resettling refugees to the United States, say they are dismayed by the wave…www.politico.com
There’s plenty more where this came from, but the bottom line? Fear-mongering politicians are going against the grain of a diverse mass of American religious leaders, groups, organizations, communities, and individuals.
#Refugees #Syria #PrayforParis #RefugeesWelcome #LiftMyLamp
