10,000 Faith Advocates Hold 40-Day Fast Raising Heat on Congress for Immigration Reform October 17, 2013 WASHINGTON—As the government shutdown ends and more than 10,000 people of faith complete 40 days of prayer and fasting, faith communities across America are calling on members of Congress to live up to their moral duty to enact just and humane immigration reform. “Now that the government shutdown has ended, we are buoyed by the fact that there is now space for House leadership to bring immigration reform to a vote,” says Sister Janet Mock, CSJ, Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. “Speaker Boehner brought the bipartisan Senate funding bill to a vote to end the government shutdown. We’re asking for him to do the exact same on immigration: simply allow a bipartisan vote for a path to citizenship so that 11 million aspiring Americans can become full members of our communities,” adds Sister Mock. “It’s time to end the fear of deportation and to reunite hundreds of thousands of families who have endured years of separation.” The Interfaith Immigration Coalition began the 40-day Fast Action for Immigration Reform on September 9th, the day that Congress returned from its August recess. Thousands of people from 46 states prayed, fasted and advocated throughout September and October to bring spiritual focus to America’s unjust and broken immigration system and to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities. “After pulling back from the brink of a potential financial collapse, our national leaders need to prove that they can still get things done for the common good of the American people. Immigration reform should be at the top of that list,” says the Rev. John McCullough, CEO and President of Church World Service. “Congress has heard from diverse stakeholders – faith leaders, the business community, labor groups, community organizations, and everyday Americans – that immigration reform with a path to citizenship would benefit this country as a whole and realize Americas promise as a nation of immigrants.” Fast Action for Immigration Reform accomplished its 40 days of action on October 18th with “Breaking the Fast” events across the country. In many cities like San Francisco, Kansas City, Pasadena, Pittsburg, and Washington DC, religious leaders will hold actions to complete the 40 days. As faith communities, we have a moral obligation to stop and resist a system that creates undue suffering on a thousand families every day, says Kristi Laughlin, Director of the Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy in San Francisco. Advocates in Washington DC will hold a prayer walk past the US Capitol and break the fast in a worship service at a Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill. Throughout the past 40 days, people of faith held weekly prayer vigils, met with members of Congress, were arrested in civil disobedience actions, and spread the message online of justice for immigrants. Catholic nuns across the country were one of the most significant mobilizers as they lead vigils and prayer events for immigration reform. “The present generation of immigrants deserve the same mercy and compassion and a chance at the same blessings we received,” says Sister Elizabeth Riebschlaeger, CCVI, of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX. “I have witnessed their deep faith, sincere hearts, generous hospitality, hard work, desire to give to this country all that they have of their gifts, share the American Dream with their children, just like my German, Czech and Wendish ancestors did for me and my parents.” During several days of intense mobilization on immigration reform from October 5-8, people of faith joined and led more than 180 immigrant justice events across the country for the National Day of Dignity and Respect. National leaders also called for a day-long, sun-up to sun-down fast in solidarity with immigrant communities on October 5th. J. Ron Byler, Executive Director of the Mennonite Central Committee, gave up lunch everyday for the past 40 days. “I will start eating lunch again, but I hope I won’t stop praying and advocating for my undocumented brothers and sisters who are seeking a better life for themselves and their families,” he says. “The history of God’s people, and God’s call today, compels me to do so.”
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 23:06:31 +0000
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