Diverse faiths joining effort to pursue broad immigration fixes

Published: 2006-07-14

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The sizzling nationwide debate about immigration may have focused little to date on religious teachings about welcoming immigrants, but participants at an interfaith conference made it clear that they intend to make that a part of the discussion. Jewish, evangelical, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist and Catholic speakers at the July 12 conference in Washington all pointed to various parts of Scripture as the basis for faith traditions that support the right of people to migrate and that call believers to treat "the stranger" as a valued member of society. But Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said he has seen little evidence of that being raised in the ongoing debate. "I don't think there's a theological perspective" being effectively brought into discussions about pending immigration legislation, he said. "That's not in the debate." The House and Senate have passed widely differing versions of immigration reform bills and remain at an impasse this summer while each body hosts further hearings on the topic around the country.

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