Senior Texas Religious Leaders Call for New and Gracious Tone in State Immigration Debate

**Text of the Statement and List of Signatories Included in This Release**  

Note to Editors: Representatives of the Catholic bishops, the United Methodist bishops, the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas will provide oral and written testimony in the House State Affairs hearing this afternoon. The hearing will include House Bill 12, the so-called sanctuary cities legislation that is among the items the Governor has declared emergency legislation. The hearing is scheduled to begin upon adjournment. Click here for a PDF of this release.

AUSTIN--Leaders of Texas Christian denominations joined with Jewish and Muslim clergy in calling for compassion and mutual respect as lawmakers opened public testimony on a series of bills that would impose new state sanctions on undocumented persons, require proof of citizenship for an array of activities, and remove the authority of police departments to prioritize public safety over identification of possible undocumented immigrants.

More than 40 senior religious leaders from throughout the state endorsed the Texas Interfaith Leaders Statement on Immigration Legislation in the 82^nd Texas Legislature. Together, the leaders represent more than 10 million Texans.

United Methodist Bishop James Dorff of San Antonio said his denomination and other faith traditions oppose the legislation because it would undermine racial reconciliation and damage local communities. We urge Texas legislators to reject policies that could encourage discrimination, co-opt local law enforcement, or scapegoat immigrants, Dorff said.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston said that faith communities support immigration reform but see it as a federal issue outside the control of the Texas Legislature.

Our nation's immigration system is flawed and results in suffering not only within our borders, but also throughout the rest of the world. Our faith traditions have called strenuously and tirelessly for Congress to reform our federal immigration system, and we will continue to do so, DiNardo said.

Dr. Javier Elizondo, Executive Vice President and Provost of the Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio, said the legislation under consideration could have unintended consequences for American citizens.

Texas Legislators should be cautious when considering policies that could detract from safety and risk the inadvertent deprivation of the civil and constitutional rights of citizens and lawful permanent residents, Elizondo said.

Imam Yusuf Z. Kavakci of the Islamic Association of North Texas said anti-immigrant sentiment reflects fear, and that lawmakers should lead Texas out of a paradigm of fear to one of respect.

By affirming the dignity of every person, including those who migrate, lawmakers can help the people of Texas move from fear to respect. And only with respect can we work with all Americans to build a truly just national immigration system, Kavakci said.

The entire text of the statement and list of signatories follows. The statement and list of signatories is available online here. 

Representatives of the Catholic bishops, the United Methodist bishops, the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas will provide oral and written testimony in the House State Affairs hearing this afternoon. The hearing will include House Bill 12, the so-called sanctuary cities legislation that is among the items the Governor has declared emergency legislation.

The Texas Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Texas.

For more information visit www.TXcatholic.org

Texas Impact was established by Texas religious leaders in 1973 to be a voice in the Texas legislative process for the shared religious social concerns of Texas faith communities. Texas Impact is supported by more than two-dozen Christian, Jewish and Muslim denominational bodies, as well as hundreds of local congregations, ministerial alliances and interfaith networks, and thousands of people of faith throughout Texas.

For more information visit texasimpact.org

Since 1950, the Christian Life Commission (CLC) has served as the ethics agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The CLC has the assignment of speaking to, but not for, churches and individuals about important ethical issues.

For more information visit texasbaptists.org

Click here for a PDF of this release.

Texas Interfaith Leaders Statement on Immigration Legislation in the 82^nd Texas Legislature

As Texas religious leaders, we unite our voices to call on our Legislature for a new and gracious tone in our states immigration debate. We encourage lawmakers to focus on healing Texas communities and affirming the rights and inherent worth of every person.

Our nations immigration system is flawed and results in suffering not only within our borders, but also throughout the rest of the world. Our faith traditions have called strenuously and tirelessly for Congress to reform our federal immigration system, and we will continue to do so.

We recognize and support the right of the United States to protect and secure our border and enforce our immigration laws. We support the work of lawmakers and law enforcement officials in protecting all people in Texas. However, when working to maintain and improve public safety, our Texas Legislators should be cautious when considering policies that could detract from safety and risk the inadvertent deprivation of the civil and constitutional rights of citizens and lawful permanent residents.

We urge Texas legislators to provide guidance and leadership to our state by rejecting policies that could encourage discrimination, co-opt local law enforcement, or scapegoat immigrants.

As policymakers and leaders, Texas legislators have the opportunity and responsibility to guide our whole community into a future of compassion, gratitude, and mutual respect. By affirming the dignity of every person, including those who migrate, lawmakers can help the people of Texas move from fear to respect. And only with respect can we work with all Americans to build a truly just national immigration system.

Signed,

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston/Houston

Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville

Most Rev. David Fellhauer, Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria

Most Rev. Curtis J. Guillory, Bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont

Most Rev. Joe S. Vasquez, Bishop of the Diocese of Austin

Most Rev. Placido Rodriguez, C.M.F., Bishop of the Diocese of Lubbock

Most Rev. Oscar Cantu, S.T.L., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio

Most Rev. Janes Tamayo, Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo

Most Rev. Kevin J. Farrell, Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas

Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, O.M.I., Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo

Most Rev. Michael Mulvey, Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi
Most Rev. Armando Ochoa, Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso

Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth

Most Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio

Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz, Auxillary Bishop of Diocese of Dallas

Bishop Max D. Whitfield, New Mexico Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, North Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Bishop James Dorff, Southwest Texas and Rio Grande Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church

Bishop J. Michael Lowry, Central Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Bishop Janice Huie, Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Bishop Michael Rinehart, TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Bishop Ray Tiemann, Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Bishop Kevin S. Kanouse, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the EvangelicalLutheran Church in America

The Rev. Dani Loving Cartwright, Regional Minister & President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest

Rev. Douglas Anders, Conference Minister, South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ

Susan Y. Paynter, Director Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission

Dr. Jess Romero, Director of the Immigration Service and Aid Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Baptist University of the Amricas

Pastor Nestor Menjivar, Iglesia Bautista Principe de Paz of Austin

Dr. Javier Elizondo, Executive Vice President and Provost, Baptist University of the Americas, San Antonio

Patty Lane, Director of Intercultural Ministries, Texas Baptists

Elder Hilary Shuford, Executive Presbyter, Mission Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), San Antonio

Rev. Robert W. Mueller, Chair of General Council, Mission Presbytery

Rabbi Neal Katz, Congregation Beth El, Tyler

Rabbi Barry H.D. Block, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth-El, San Antonio

Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger, Beth-El Congregation, Fort Worth

Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Agudas Achim of Austin

Rabbi Rachel Kobrin, Congregation Agudas Achim of Austin

Dr. Yusuf Z. Kavakci, Imam & Founding Dean, Suffa Islamic Seminary, Islamic Association of North Texas

Imam Moujahed Bakhach, Islamic Association of Tarrant County

Imam Islam Mossaad, North Austin Muslim Community Center

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