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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:	Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:	Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:	CSC32::J_CHRISTIE

Created:	Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1362
Total number of notes:	61362

1065.0. "would your church harbour refugees?" by DECALP::GUTZWILLER (happiness- U want what U have) Fri Mar 10 1995 06:31

here in switzerland and in neighbouring germany various churches have been 
in the news lately for harbouring political refugees.

the influx of people from mainly third world countries seeking political
asylum in europe has been on the rise in the last few years and the authorities
across the continent are speeding up the decision making procedure concerning
asylum requests. refugees are now more likely to be refused asylum and to be 
repatriated.

many churches see this as a sign of growing anti-immigrant sentiment. they
offer shelter to asylum seekers, legal aid for fighting first instance decisions
and even protection from deportation orders.

going by some right wing politicians and conservative media, most political 
asylum seekers are just plain immigrants who want to abuse the legal instrument
of political asylum. whist there are high percentages of foreign workers in 
switzerland and in germany, these countries do not have a tradition of 
immigration as such and the instrument of political asylum is an effective 
means to get into the country.

whatever the case may be, immigrant or refugee, in my book the churches 
harbouring the refugees/immigrants get a few brownie points.

but, are these churches acting in the christian spirit or are they just seeking 
publicity by countering anti-immigrant sentiment? would your church harbour
refugees too?


andreas.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1065.1	The Clinton gummint has no tolerance for scofflaws	COVERT::COVERT	John R. Covert	`Fri Mar 10 1995 07:28`	4
	In the United States, that would be a good way to get Janet Reno and her Waffen BATF to burn the church down. /john
1065.2	an effective non-violent protest (so far)	DECALP::GUTZWILLER	happiness- U want what U have	`Fri Mar 10 1995 09:45`	11
	technically at least the churches which harbour the refugees are not breaking the law. they grant "church asylum" and the refugee lives on the church premises. over here, law enforcement agencies would be justified by law to enter church premises in order to arrest the refugee. so far, police have been reluctant to do so however. andreas.
1065.3		POWDML::FLANAGAN	I feel therefore I am	`Fri Mar 10 1995 09:52`	5
	The Unitarian Universalist Churches have in the past harbored refugees and most likely would do so in the future if the individual congregation deemed the action appropriate. Patricia
1065.4		CSC32::J_CHRISTIE	Unquenchable fire	`Fri Mar 10 1995 13:49`	5
	If I may wax poetic, all in my church are refugees. Shalom, Richard
1065.5		CSC32::J_CHRISTIE	Unquenchable fire	`Fri Mar 10 1995 14:22`	12
	To answer your question in the context it was asked, Andreas, the particular church where I presently hold membership has yet to be confronted by such a situation. Should the situation arise, I would hope the church would remember the Christian witness of those who were involved in the American Underground Railroad and those who sheltered the European Jews and others earlier this century. Shalom, Richard
1065.6	who are today's refugees?	DECALP::GUTZWILLER	happiness- U want what U have	`Fri Mar 17 1995 09:41`	25
	> Should the situation arise, I would hope the church would remember the > Christian witness of those who were involved in the American Underground > Railroad and those who sheltered the European Jews and others earlier this > century. you touch on an interesting area here. through the lenses of history it is easy to identify historical refugees. today we know that it was right to help the slave who escaped from a southern plantation, to make it to the north. we also know today that it was right to help fleeing jews in the midst of the antisemitic mass-hysteria. looking back we also know that when the help was needed most, at the time, little was given. how do we identify today's refugees? no doubt tomorrows history books will tell us who they were. the stated motivation of the churches mentioned in .0, is to counter a growing anit-immigrant sentiment. if they harbour refugees regardless of whether these have been subject to persecution (due to political or religious beliefs) they may be building a controversial case: is someone who is 'merely' escaping from death by famine not also entitled to our assistance? andreas.
1065.7		CSC32::J_CHRISTIE	Unquenchable fire	`Sat Mar 18 1995 12:05`	19
	.6 Excellent consideration, Andreas. It is not always easy to see in one's own time who might need the sheltering arms of refuge. I think we need to be ever mindful of the last, the least, and the lost. If we sever this connection, we fail Christ. There is a great deal of anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. right now, too. Many would have us say, "There is no room in the inn. There is no room at the table." There is distrust, resentment, and fear. I think it's sinful. Peace, Richard