News
Bishop Speaks at Justice for Immigrants News Conference
The North Carolina Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants is calling on people of all faiths to stand up on behalf of immigrants and to offer them hospitality and justice. In its principle of purpose, the Coalition states, “We confess that, all too often, we have remained silent.”
Acknowledging that “immigration policy is a complex issue that divides people of goodwill,” the group adds, “Our faiths compel us to stand with immigrants in their struggle for justice.”
In a sign of unity, leaders of four faith groups spoke at a news conference on October 7. They were Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh; Rabbi Eric Solomon, Beth Meyer Synagogue; Imam Oliver Muhammad, As Salaam Islamic Center and Reverend Cookie Santiago, NC Conference of the United Methodist Church.
In his remarks, Bishop Burbidge provided a theological perspective on immigrants rooted in the Old and New Testaments. ”From Genesis through the gospels, the ethical treatment of migrants ranks among the highest priorities of the Lord our God,” the Bishop said. “In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that we must welcome the stranger and that will be a criterion of our final judgment” (Mt.25: 35, 43).
Bishop Burbidge spoke of the disruptive nature of the current manner of raids conducted by federal immigration officials, in which fathers and mothers are often taken into custody leaving children behind. “As a member of the Migration Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I call upon national, state and local officials to abide by humanitarian considerations in law enforcement, especially in executing workplace/home raids.”
Asking for laws that are “just and humane,” the Bishop concluded his statement quoting from the Gospels: “As the Lord our God tells us about welcoming the stranger, ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Below is the text of Bishop Burbidge’s statement along with the video statements of Reverend George Reed, Executive Director of the North Carolina Council of Churches, Bishop Burbidge and the other speakers at the news conference.
To find out more about the North Carolina Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants log on to www.welcometheimmigrant.org.
(The Spanish version of this page is available by clicking the "ver en español" link at the top of this page.)
Above: Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Rabbi Eric Solomon, Imam Oliver Muhammad and Rev. Cookie Santiago, the four major speakers at the news conference held on behalf of the NC Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants
Below: Representatives of faith communities attending news conference in support of the NC Religious Coalition for Justice and Immigrants
