September 22, 2006

Kansas bishops for the Episcopal, United Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran churches have no argument

The AP article "Barnett, Sebelius spar over immigration; bishops weigh in" seamlessly blends a discussion of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' seeming Janet Napolitano-style disinterest in sending National Guard troops to the Mexican border with an attempt by religious leaders to silence and smear opponents of illegal immigration.

Jim Barnett is Sebelius' Republican challenger, and he's running radio ads accusing her of flip-flopping on the NG issue and arranging a photo op at the border to make her look tough.

But, let's take a look at the issue of yet more presumably far-left religious leaders supporting illegal immigration:

Meanwhile, Kansas bishops for the Episcopal, United Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran churches expressed concern about the tone of the debate over immigration. While not blaming candidates, Methodist Bishop Scott Jameson Jones said he sees "an undercurrent of racism in Kansas."

...Meanwhile, the three Protestant bishops - Jones, Lutheran Gerald Mansholt and Episcopalian Dean Wolfe - said they're concerned that fear of economic dislocation or cultural differences is driving the debate.

"I am missing leadership from state officials to name the sin of racism," Jones said. "I don't find racist politicians, but I find people who are expressing racist views that then get played out in other ways, so that I'm deeply concerned with an undercurrent racism in the state of Kansas that I did not expect to find."

This should be read in true Father James McQuarter voice:

"We come from a Christian tradition that finds our Lord the child of a dislocated family," Wolfe said. "There's a sense of, I think, in the Christian community, of a deep commitment to the one who comes from afar, hospitality to the stranger."

Posted to Immigration at September 22, 2006 11:48 AM

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