America's Voice Blog

Posted 01/12/12 at 04:24pm By Van Le

Local and National Evangelicals Kick Off Youth Voter Registration Campaign

nuestro futuroLocal and national evangelical leaders with the National Latino Evangelical Coalition kicked off the Nuestro Futuro voter registration campaign this week in Florida, launching a drive to register Latino evangelical youth for the 2012 election.

At a rally in Orlando, speakers discussed the importance of engaging the youth of the nation’s fastest growing demographic.  Though youth might feel that their vote doesn’t count for much or that they can make a change, speakers said, it is crucial for young Hispanic evangelicals to be educated on matters like poverty, immigration, and education.

One issue that Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, asked students to fight for was comprehensive immigration reform.

“We’re in favor of immigration reform and we want it now,” Fox News Latino reported Salguero saying.  He explained that the country’s roughly 11 million Latino evangelicals share this feeling based “on the Bible and moral and just laws.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Salguero says that the Coalition isn’t endorsing any particular candidate or political party.  They just want young Hispanic evangelicals to be more aware of the issues and to care enough to vote. 

However, Salguero cautioned, immigration reform is a topic very important to the Latino community (polls have consistently shown that a plurality of Latino voters nationwide rank immigration as their first or second most important concern), which means that “anyone who seeks to create an obstacle to immigration reform will not see a passionate support from Latinos,” according to Salguero.

Florida is notorious for being a key swing state, chased after by Democrats and Republicans alike.  This year it is also a key Republican primary state, with Mitt Romney and the other GOP contenders slated to head there at the end of January, after the South Carolina primary.  As the Latino population and Latino youth population grow in the Sunshine State—over 4 million Latinos call Florida home—the constituency is bound to be a powerful political force.

Within the next few weeks, the Coalition will also travel to states such as Ohio, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, where Hispanics are most likely to have an impact at the polls.

Posted 06/21/11 at 02:32pm By Patty Kupfer

Southern Baptists and Mormons Come Out in Support of Legal Status For Undocumented Immigrants

PrayerMy colleagues just came back from Netroots Nation cheering the inclusion of immigration reform squarely on the progressive agenda.  While they were geeking out in Minneapolis, the Southern Baptists were getting busy at their own convention in Phoenix, passing a resolution in support of immigration reform.  

That’s right: THE Southern Baptists -- the largest, and one of the most conservative denominations of Evangelicals in the country.

Just the week before that, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) joined the ranks of immigration reform supporters.  The Mormons are arguably the other most conservative, large denomination in the country. 

This is huge.

These are the constituents and organizations that conservative politicians most care about.  They are the ones who vote, donate money, and provide them moral legitimacy. Each time one of these churches speaks up (staking a moral claim for immigrants to “square themselves with the law,” as the LDS statement described it), the conservatives in Congress who have been blocking immigration reform for years, claiming to represent their constituencies, have a little less ground to stand on. 

Yesterday’s Arizona Republic notes:

When it comes to immigration reform, faith leaders and the public get it. Politicians need to catch up…

Faith leaders do not support illegal behavior. They have grappled with the inherent conflict of supporting people who have entered the country illegally and recognized the need to move beyond the simplistic refrain of "What part of illegal don't you understand?"

That refrain led to a law in Arizona that invites racial profiling and a new law in Alabama that targets schoolchildren. These and other misguided laws, as well as the ugly rhetoric and the wild accusations that have been aimed at undocumented workers and their families, show a clear need for strong leadership.

The churches deserve credit for stepping up and reminding their followers of the importance of humanity and compassion.

The Baptists' resolution also said:

We deplore any bigotry or harassment against any persons, regardless of their country of origin or legal status.

Dare we say "amen?"

Posted 05/18/11 at 11:26am By Web Team

Florida DREAMers, Faith Leaders Applaud Support of Sen. Nelson and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen for Dream Act

we are america

Written by Bridget Feldmann:

DREAMers and members of Florida's interfaith community came together on May 13th to express strong collective approval of recent action on the part of Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). On May 11th, these two politicians helped to reintroduce the DREAM act to the U.S. Congress. 

The common stance on this issue amongst various politically and religiously affiliated groups is evidence of its immense importance. According to First Focus, 70% of Americans currently support the DREAM act. Republicans and Democrats in Florida have come together, as well as leaders of different faiths, to speak out on this crucial policy. Now is definitely the time, as Obama ramps up focus on immigration reform. Copycat bills similar to Arizona's debatably unconstitutional law were recently shot down in the Florida Legislature as well. 

At the press conference on May 13th, sponsored by Hope Community Center, National Farm Worker Ministry, United We Dream, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, FOCUS and the Federation of Congregations United to Serve, a young woman named Evelyn told her story. She came to the United States when she was three years old and has lived here ever since, for 19 years. Her mother was deported four years ago after getting caught driving without a license, and Evelyn has not seen her since. Although a youth leader in her home town of Apopka, FL, one who participated in honors club and took AP classes, it took Evelyn two and a half years to arrange to attend college. Even now, she is only able to attend part-time, because for her, each class costs four times the amount that a documented student would have to pay. 

“I am ecstatic that they are re-introducing the DREAM Act, especially with the momentum that we have now in Florida” she exclaimed. “The youth in Florida are ready to take the DREAM Act on and make it a reality for this year. We are very thankful to Senator Durbin and especially Senator Bill Nelson.  We, as Floridians, appreciate his continued support.”

The DREAMers aren't the only ones who share her sentiments. Reverend Jose Elias Gonzalez, Senior Pastor of Love and Living Hope Church, conveyed his community's sympathy for current DREAMers:

"This is not just a matter that some may consider political. Truly I believe it’s a moral as well as a spiritual one ... After being educated and groomed here as productive individuals, it’s almost like now they’re being placed into a room with no windows, locked doors, waiting for someone to graciously give them another opportunity to continue to develop into the great human beings that they are ... We’re arresting the development of these individuals who have worked so hard."

Like many other speakers on the call, Gonzalez also called upon Sen. Marco Rubio to reevaluate his unfortunate stance with regards to the DREAM act:

“I ... would ask Senator Rubio to reconsider his position on the Dream Act, and take a few minutes to talk to these young men and women in the state that he represents, and see the value of knowing their hearts, their passions, and the love that they have for their country. I think the only mistake, if they could’ve made a mistake at all, was their obedience to their parents.”

Hopefully his remarks will resonate with Rubio as well as other anti-DREAM politicians as we see the bill go forward. The passage of the DREAM act is clearly the best (and favored) move for his home state, as well as the rest of the nation as a whole. 

Posted 03/01/11 at 11:36am By Web Team

Faith Leaders Reject “False Divisions” Offered at House Hearing on Immigration

This very powerful statement from African-American and Latino religious leaders was issued in advance of today's House hearing on immigration issues. Our initial post on the hearing is here.

While the purpose of the hearing appears to be aimed at dividing communities of color, Rev. Derrick Harkins, Senior Pastor of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference say, "As faith leaders of African-American and Hispanic congregations, we come together to affirm our commitment to an economic solution that honestly addresses the need for good jobs for everyone in our communities, without seeking to pit us against one another for political gain." We're posting the full letter. It's powerful, and rejects the "false divisions."

Posted 12/15/10 at 01:12pm By Mahwish Khan

WATCH: Caroling for the DREAM Act and Praying for our Nation’s Conscience

On a cold and dreary Sunday evening, scores of DREAMers and their supporters gathered together on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to sing modified holiday carols – all with a witty DREAM Act theme.  Watch as Eric Byler, of 9500 Liberty and the Coffee Party fame, interviews a number of attendees on that faithful Sunday evening:

As the temperature in DC dropped from cold to freezing yesterday, DREAMers from around the country gathered together with faith leaders for an emergency prayer summit, a creative "Jericho March" around Senate office buildings, and major visits with key Senate offices. 

According to the Faith in Public Life blog:

The day started in the chapel of the United Methodist building where Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders and courageous immigrant students who will a gain a chance to achieve their dreams if the bill passes articulated the moral imperative to pass this bill. The inspiring group then marched hand-in-hand around the Senate office buildings, singing hymns all along the way and stopping for a moving prayer service before fanning out in the Hart Senate office building to press their Senators to show moral courage and vote yes on the DREAM Act.

Here's Ohio Evangelical leader, Reverend Troy Jackson, speaking about why our nation "needs a conversion moment" on DREAM:

Click here to read more.
Posted 12/14/10 at 04:52pm By Grace Cunningham

Prominent Faith Leaders Converge for Prayer Summit, “Jericho March” for DREAM Act

From Faith in Public Life:

With the Senate poised to vote on the DREAM Act before the close of this lame duck session, dozens of prominent clergy – including bishops, national leaders and clergy from numerous key states–converged on the nation’s Capitol today to press Senators to vote in favor of the DREAM Act, a bipartisan bill that would give thousands of upstanding young immigrants the opportunity to earn legal status by serving in the military or completing a college education.

These faith leaders, who have led the faith community's ongoing efforts to reform our broken immigration system, held an emergency prayer summit and "Jericho March" along with over 100 DREAM students, praying and singing as they encircled the U.S. Senate Office Buildings and proclaimed that now is the time for Senators to show moral courage and break down the barriers obstructing passage of the DREAM Act. This evocative event drew inspiration from the Old Testament story of Joshua, who overcame adversity with faithfulness, marching around the city of Jericho seven times and sounding trumpets until the walls fell.

Rev. Peg Chemberlin, President of the National Council of Churches, which represents 40 million American Christian:

“All across the country, faith leaders are saying ‘now is the time.’ We ought to give talented, upstanding, hardworking youth the opportunity to serve their country in the military or contribute to their country through higher education.”

Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, proclaimed:

“We are here to transcend limitations and to break down barriers, the same way the walls of Jericho fell. These walls must come down!”

Via Faith in Public Life:

The march continues the faith community’s long-running, multifaceted, nationwide mobilization to pass the DREAM Act. The House of Representatives recently passed the DREAM Act, following a flood of phone calls, letters and emails from constituents in the faith community. Faith leaders and students fanned across Capitol Hill after the prayer summit and Jericho March, meeting with numerous key Senate offices and bringing their urgent plea for action on the DREAM Act from their communities to their elected officials. Less than two weeks before Christmas, leaders called on the Senate to bring hope to thousands of children for this holiday.

Sojourners founder and CEO Rev. Jim Wallis:

"We're praying for a Christmas miracle to give advent hope to a generation of young people who are ready to become our best citizens. The dream to go to college or a commitment to public service should not be illegal- even if you are the children of undocumented parents. For the Christian community, this is Advent, a season of hope and anticipation. We celebrate a hope fulfilled, but we are praying for a hope that has been deferred for far too long."

Rev. Troy Jackson, senior pastor of University Christian Church in Cincinnati, OH, spoke of Bernard Pastor, a young immigrant who wants to be a pastor, but is facing deportation:

“One of the tenets of evangelicalism is that we believe conversion is possible. Our nation needs a conversion moment… we need our politicians to be people of love.”

They write:

Clergy from Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Maine brought stories from their communities to Capitol Hill, reminding Senators of the consequences of inaction on this issue, and the tremendous opportunity they have to act with moral conviction to keep America safe, strong, and economically robust.

Click here to read more.
Posted 07/14/10 at 11:35am By Guest Blogger

Conservative Leaders Call on Congress to Follow the Bible, Reform Immigration

As conservative Republicans in Congress continue to tack right on immigration before the November mid-terms, conservative leaders outside of Washington are coming together, calling on Republicans to work with Democrats on comprehensive immigration reform.

Conservative religious leaders from across the country and across the religious spectrum have united in a cohesive effort to push for a just and compassionate solution to our broken immigration system. A handful of these leaders went to Congress today to make their case for comprehensive immigration reform at a hearing dubbed, “The Ethical Imperative for Reform of Our Immigration System.”

The voices of support for comprehensive immigration reform among those of faith have been growing louder and more unified.  The “Interfaith Platform on Humane Immigration Reform” has over 500 signatures from a variety of religious groups and leaders and the National Association of Evangelicals recently expressed their support for a just immigration system. Not only do the leaders of these various and diverse religious organizations agree with the cause for just immigration reform, but recent polls show that majorities of Catholics, mainline Protestants and Evangelicals are behind them.

Click here to read more.
Posted 05/18/10 at 01:58pm By Dara Lind

“Emergency Delegation” of Clergy Brings McCain Real Talk on Arizona

Last week, a group of prominent Arizona clergy, including Catholic and Methodist bishops, an Evangelical pastor, a rabbi and an Ecumenical leader, felt called to mount an "emergency delegation" to Washington to "prod, encourage and advocate" (as Catholic Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson told the Los Angeles Times) for passage of comprehensive immigration reform and a delay in putting Arizona law SB 1070 into effect. During a meeting with their senator John McCain, the faith leaders bore witness to the lessons they've learned ministering to Arizonans: border security is only one part of an effective and humane solution to our broken immigration system that only leaders in Washington will be able to build.

Arizona’s faith community has condemned S.B. 1070 across the board, and it appears that for the time being, if anyone is going to lead the state out of the moral crisis it’s in, it will have to be the faith leaders, until Arizona’s Senate delegation is willing to come back to the table toward a comprehensive solution. Here are some highlights of the press conference the delegation held after meeting with McCain, via Faith in Public Life:

Time magazine reported that this was Evangelical pastor Gary Kinnaman's message to the Senator:

"We need people who will lead us out of this."

Instead of leading, McCain has fenced himself in by pushing short-sighted "border first" policies. But Bishop Kicanas and his fellow religious leaders reminded the Senator (according to CNS News) that "in and of itself, that is simply not going to solve the problems we face as a country." The need for a comprehensive fix to the broken immigration system weighs on Bishop Kicanas and his fellow faith leaders every day:

“Illegal immigration is not good for anyone. It’s not good for someone dying in the desert, trying to come into this country to work. It’s not good for country to not know who is entering the country. We need legal avenues, which would prevent the difficulties we currently face.”

While Arizona clergy see the humanitarian emergency the broken immigration system has created, however, Senator McCain seems to have bought into secondhand rumors and myth. EFE reports that Rev. Jan Flaaten, executive director of the Arizona Ecumenical Council, had to correct the facts McCain gave them as an excuse to justify his lack of leadership (translated from Spanish):

"According to Flaaten, McCain, who defended immigration reform in 2008, told them that the increase in violence along the Mexican border in the last three years due to drug trafficking justified focusing on border security first.

But Flaaten pointed out that 'statistics show that crime hasn't increased significantly.'"

Posted 05/14/10 at 02:09pm By Dara Lind

Leading Evangelicals Want “Remedial English Classes” for Those Who Call Immigration Reform “Amnesty”

Conservative evangelicals made a big splash in the immigration debate this week, as some of the movement's foremost leaders joined some continued champions to call for immediate action on bipartisan immigration reform. Evangelical leaders including Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel and the Liberty University School of Law and Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church (a national figure in the Evangelical movement) signed a full-page ad in Thursday's edition of Roll Call titled "An Evangelical Call for Bipartisan Immigration Reform." The ad calls on Democrats and Republicans alike to protect "the unity of the immediate family" and establish

"a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents."

Several of these leaders, including Land and Staver, also released a statement on Tuesday expanding on these points. The statement affirms:

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.

Click here to read more.
Posted 04/21/10 at 01:20am By Jackie Mahendra

National Faith Leaders Firmly Reject New Arizona Law, Citing “Nazism,” Profiling

More on Arizona's highly controversial immigration law from CNN -- featuring Sojourners' CEO Jim Wallis:

"I got up here at 4 in the morning to fly to Phoenix...  Enforcement that breaks up families is unacceptable...  Enforcement that doesn't recognize a broken system is not gonna work... They're gonna stop people, if they forgot their wallet, and they're gonna put [them] in jail."

L.A. Cardinal Mahony is also speaking out, via AP/Huffington Post:

"The tragedy of the law is its totally flawed reasoning: that immigrants come to our country to rob, plunder, and consume public resources," Mahony said.

"I can't imagine Arizonans now reverting to German Nazi and Russian Communist techniques whereby people are required to turn one another in to the authorities on any suspicion of documentation," the cardinal said. "Are children supposed to call 911 because one parent does not have proper papers? Are family members and neighbors now supposed to spy on one another, create total distrust across neighborhoods and communities, and report people because of suspicions based upon appearance?"

You can fax Governor Brewer directly here, or sign the petition to veto the bill.

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