The New Sanctuary Movement Breaks An Unjust Law

[Sapphire Blue]

Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Alexia Salvatierra: Sanctuary Breaks An Unjust Law

Why would a congregation risk prosecution to provide sanctuary to an immigrant family? Why would a pastor decide that people who have broken laws deserve protection, support, and advocacy?

(snip)

Sanctuary is an act of compassion, an expression of mercy. It is, however, not mercy at the expense of justice. Participants in the New Sanctuary Movement believe that our current immigration system is profoundly unjust—so unjust that we believe that we are facing one of those unique moments throughout history when divine law and human law are in conflict and God’s justice demands that we stand with those who break unjust laws even at the risk of sharing their punishment. Sanctuary is not only about mercy; it is also about justice.

But for many of us, the decision to provide sanctuary is rooted in the impulse of the heart to love as we have been loved—to hear the cries of Liliana and Joe and Mae and Jose and Juan and Jean’s children and respond with compassion.

Yet, the act of sanctuary is more than simple charity. What we do with someone who has broken into our house only to go on to clean it, take care of our garden, remodel the deck, watch over the children, and cook us dinner? We read in Hebrews that those of us who provide hospitality have entertained angels unaware. To offer sanctuary is to recognize that the strangers in our midst are blessing us, in clear and mysterious ways. May we respond with the hospitality that we have received.


Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is the Executive Director of CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), an organization of religious leaders in Los Angeles county who support low-wage workers in their struggle for a living wage, health insurance, fair working conditions, and a voice in the decisions that affect them.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2007/07/alexia-salvatierra-sanctuary-b.html

THE NEW SANCTUARY MOVEMENT ____

Building on a Powerful Tradition

In the early 1980's, thousands of Central American refugees poured into the United States, fleeing life-threatening repression and extensive human rights violations by their governments.

At the time, federal immigration policy would have denied the majority political asylum simply because their governments were allies of the U.S. Many of these refugees had actively participated in the liberation theology movement and naturally sought protection from congregations. READ MORE

Why Now?
In March of 2006, Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said he would instruct his priests and others working in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to disregard provisions of House Bill HR4437 that would criminalize providing humanitarian aid to persons without first checking their legal status. Cardinal Mahony's statements were significant in awakening the general public and legislators to the moral and human dimensions of the question - effectively changing the terms of the public debate. See current legislation.. See current legislation. READ MORE

LINKS

See The Convening, Washington D.C.

See Overview, Goals and Structure of the New Sanctuary Movement

See About the Coordinating Organizations

See Prophetic Hospitality: Strategies for A New Movement

http://www.newsanctuarymovement.org/movement.html

[gratuitous]

1. Criminalizing humanitarian aid . . .

So a pastor or a little old lady in a congregation could spend more time in jail for giving a homeless person a square meal than Scooter Libby did for betraying his country.

Proud of the country you've built, Republicans?