Rev. Gradye Parsons,
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Press Conference
Statement, Sanctuary, September 24, 2014
This morning, the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) took part in a tele-press conference about the
growing Sanctuary movement. Here are the remarks prepared by the Reverend
Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.
Consider two facts:
First, every day 1,000 people are deported from this
country.
Second, three-fifths of the undocumented persons in this
country have been here more than 10 years.
Think about that – more than 10 years.
So those at risk of deportation are known and beloved in our
communities.
They are our friends and family.
Our church members and colleagues.
Our lives are inextricably intertwined.
We wear the same garment of destiny.
When faith bodies thought that comprehensive immigration
reform was inevitable, we sadly stomached the daily disappearance of 1,000 of
our brothers and sisters.
When President Obama held out Administrative action as an
imminent form of relief, we bore the weight of the daily loss knowing that soon
it would all be over.
After the President’s announcement on September 6th
to, again, delay administrative relief to those at risk of deportation, faith
bodies began to question the morality of waiting and bearing the daily loss of
our brothers and sisters any longer.
And so here we are, at this point in the faith history of
this country where congregations intercede by offering sanctuary.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus is asked what is the greatest
commandment of all. He answers, “’Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor
as yourself.’”
The congregations involved in sanctuary are living out their
love of neighbor by protecting families vulnerable to separation.
This denomination has a history of supporting churches that
find sanctuary to be a moral response. We support Southside Presbyterian Church
and University Presbyterian Church and pray for relief for Rosa Robles Loreto
and Luis Lopez Acabal.
We are also honored to join with our interfaith partners
across the United States in this sanctuary movement.
