MESSAGE – Words from the Resident Bishop
of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church – Tuesday, 26
November 2013 - Bishop's Call to Fast on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2013
The California-Pacific Annual Conference
is called to a "Fast for Families" for national immigration reform by
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño who delivered the following statement at a press
event today with Catholic Archbishop José H. Gomez, LA County Supervisor Mark
Ridley Thomas, LA County Federation labor leader Maria Elena Durazo and others.
"On this day we call for a Fast for
Immigrant Families who since 1996 have lived under the most repressive
immigration laws this country has ever had. Year by year the enforcement of
these immigration laws has become more and more unjust, breaking families
apart, leaving children behind in suffering and anguish, mistreating workers,
and violating the most basic of human and civil rights of persons.
Our present immigration laws have created
a culture in this country of deep and pervasive racism against the immigrant,
leading even little children to the hatred of our immigrant brothers and
sisters. It will not be easy to transform the place of injustice and inhumanity
that we have come to in this country, but efforts must be made and they must be
made now!
In the example and spirit of Jesus the
Christ, we fast for and with immigrant families in Los Angeles, in California,
and all across the country, seeking God’s justice. Hatred, racism, the oppression
of the poor, and the inhumane marginalization of the immigrant, while taking
the hard work and much needed social contributions of our immigrant brothers
and sisters, can no longer be allowed to stand in a society that professes
justice and democracy. We must stand for justice on this day for our immigrant
brothers and sisters or the very fabric of American justice will continue to
tear till it is torn beyond repair.
We call upon the House of Representatives
through its leader, Speaker John Boehner, to do the right and just thing. Mr.
Boehner, open the doors of the House for public discourse and bold action that
leads this country to just and humane immigration reform.
As we fast, let us pray that the House
will be so courageous that it will do better, far better than the Senate, and
bring forth an immigration reform bill that cuts through the lies about
national security and the burden of immigrants. Immigrants are NOT a threat to
our national security and they are NOT a burden. Immigrants contribute to the
well-being of this country far more than we have been willing to acknowledge.
May God look upon our fasting with compassion and touch the hearts of our
Representatives and lead them to an immigration reform that:
Unifies families;
Provides a pathway to citizenship for all
immigrants in this country;
Treats all workers, documented and
undocumented, with justice.
And while we fast and pray for the right
actions of our Representatives, let us also demand that President Barack Obama
cease to deport not one more immigrant until immigration reform that is fair
and just has been passed in this land.
So let us join our fasting to our working
for just and humane immigration reform."
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
---
(CORRECTED)
Bishop's Call to Fast on Wednesday, Nov.
27, 2013
[This email corrects the fasting date to
Wednesday Nov. 27, NOT Nov. 26. Sincere
apologies.]
The California-Pacific Annual Conference
is called to a "Fast for Families" for national immigration reform by
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño who delivered the following statement at a press
event today with Catholic Archbishop José H. Gomez, LA County Supervisor Mark
Ridley Thomas, LA County Federation labor leader Maria Elena Durazo and others.
"On this day we call for a Fast for
Immigrant Families who since 1996 have lived under the most repressive
immigration laws this country has ever had. Year by year the enforcement of
these immigration laws has become more and more unjust, breaking families
apart, leaving children behind in suffering and anguish, mistreating workers,
and violating the most basic of human and civil rights of persons.
Our present immigration laws have created
a culture in this country of deep and pervasive racism against the immigrant,
leading even little children to the hatred of our immigrant brothers and
sisters. It will not be easy to transform the place of injustice and inhumanity
that we have come to in this country, but efforts must be made and they must be
made now!
In the example and spirit of Jesus the
Christ, we fast for and with immigrant families in Los Angeles, in California,
and all across the country, seeking God’s justice. Hatred, racism, the
oppression of the poor, and the inhumane marginalization of the immigrant,
while taking the hard work and much needed social contributions of our
immigrant brothers and sisters, can no longer be allowed to stand in a society
that professes justice and democracy. We must stand for justice on this day for
our immigrant brothers and sisters or the very fabric of American justice will
continue to tear till it is torn beyond repair.
We call upon the House of Representatives
through its leader, Speaker John Boehner, to do the right and just thing. Mr.
Boehner, open the doors of the House for public discourse and bold action that
leads this country to just and humane immigration reform.
As we fast, let us pray that the House
will be so courageous that it will do better, far better than the Senate, and
bring forth an immigration reform bill that cuts through the lies about
national security and the burden of immigrants. Immigrants are NOT a threat to
our national security and they are NOT a burden. Immigrants contribute to the
well-being of this country far more than we have been willing to acknowledge.
May God look upon our fasting with compassion and touch the hearts of our
Representatives and lead them to an immigration reform that:
Unifies families;
Provides a pathway to citizenship for all
immigrants in this country;
Treats all workers, documented and
undocumented, with justice.
And while we fast and pray for the right
actions of our Representatives, let us also demand that President Barack Obama
cease to deport not one more immigrant until immigration reform that is fair
and just has been passed in this land.
So let us join our fasting to our working
for just and humane immigration reform."
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
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Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
PO Box 6006
Pasadena CA 91102-6006
Physical Address:
110 S Euclid Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
E-mail:
Office of Communications
(cpco@cal-pac.org)
Phone:
(800) 244-UMCC
(626) 568-7300
(626) 796-7297 (Fax)
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