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ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson and
Ralston Deffenbaugh Jr., president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Service, issued a March 27 statement appealing for U.S. senators to
amend or reject an immigration bill proposed by the House of
Representatives (see related story, "ELCA members, others lobby Congress for host of causes").
They
cited concerns that the House bill would make it a felony to be an
undocumented immigrant. It would also make it illegal for churches to
provide aid to undocumented immigrants, allowing the government to
seize a congregation’s assets.
ELCA leaders also were
concerned that the bill “separates families,” “denies a legal path to
permanent residence” and “denies fair treatment for farmworkers who
provide our daily bread.”
Endorsed by 53 of the ELCA’s 65
synod bishops, the statement frames the issue within the context of
several Bible verses: Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Paul’s exhortation in
Romans 15:7 and Leviticus 19:33-34.
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