J.D. Long-Garía/CATHOLIC SUN

Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares speaks during an interfaith prayer service July 20 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix.

Faith leaders call for comprehensive immigration reform

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton’s ruling may have gutted Arizona’s tough immigration law of much of its controversial aspects, but the state’s faith-based opposition hasn’t relented.

Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders joined July 29 for a 6 a.m. interfaith prayer service at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix, praying that the federal government enact comprehensive immigration reform.

“We need to remember our Christian principles, the values of Jesus Christ,” Phoenix Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares said during the service.
“We need to understand that [immigrants] enrich our society,” he said in his bilingual address. “Our movement is about achieving human dignity for everyone on our shores. So let us not become the oppressors, but instead put on the fruits of the Holy Spirit.”

The bishop called to mind the Holy Family and their time as immigrants in Egypt.

“Let us remember that our struggle is really the work of God,” he said.
United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño spoke of the Gospel’s call to welcome the immigrant, noting that Arizona’s immigration law, SB 1070, runs counter that message.

“The concept [of SB 1070] is this: enforcement through attrition,” Bishop Carcaño explained, “to make life so difficult for immigrants that they leave the state.”

Since the April signing of the law, immigrants have been leaving. But, despite their departure, the state’s economy hasn’t improved, Bishop Carcaño said.

“We will no longer tolerate our government leaders’ political posturing on immigration,” she said. “President Obama needs to know we no longer forgive his lack on leadership on immigration reform.”

Many of the speakers noted the prayerful efforts of an interfaith group who held a vigil on the state Capitol lawn for more than 100 days.

“I always had a lot of faith. We made this effort to stop the law,” said Rosa Maria Soto, who prayed with the group hours after the judge’s ruling.
“But we have to keep working, we must keep nurturing our faith,” she said. “I feel like the judge stopped those aspects which would have affected us the most, but we know the fight could last years.”

Margaret Wolford and other members of Pax Christi Phoenix also turned out to the Capitol after the ruling. She described her reaction as “cautiously optimistic.”

“The judge struck down the meat of it, but there’s still a way to go,” Wolford said. “The most harmful part of this bill is the fear it’s put in our immigrant population, and also the fear of immigrants is provoked in others.”

That fear is tearing the community apart, according to Susan Frederick-Gray, a Unitarian Universalist minister who spoke at the interfaith prayer service.

“In the face of this fear that’s assaulting our communities, we must not be intimidated,” she said. “We must stand on the side of love and family unity. We must not be silent.”