As Congress debates immigration reform, lobbying is intense, much of it led by religious groups. Lucky Severson reports.
LUCKY SEVERSON: They have been conspicuous in rallies around the country, clergy from many different faiths. And they're also busy behind the scenes. The Catholic Church, in particular, is determined to make a stand against the House immigration reform bill -- any bill, for that matter, that would criminalize illegal immigrants and those who aid them. Kevin Appleby is the point man on immigration for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. KEVIN APPLEBY (Director, Office of Migration and Refugee Policy, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Our priests, our bishops witness the human consequences of a broken immigration system every day. And it's come to a point where the bishops say we have to really change the system. This is morally unacceptable.
SEVERSON: It was Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony who signaled how strongly the Church feels about the issue in an interview on Ash Wednesday (March 1). The leader of the country's largest archdiocese said he would instruct his priests to disobey any law that requires them to verify that an immigrant is legal before providing assistance. In Mahony's words: "I would say to all priests, deacons, and members of the Church that we are not going to observe this law." Since then, the Church has mobilized priests and parishioners around the country to advance their cause.Mr. APPLEBY: The Church's role is instrumental, because you have the moral voice as well as the organizational capability to get these protests going.
SEVERSON: The size and passion of the rallies surprised even the organizers. There were other demonstrations, supporting tough enforcement.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Now I am not against foreign people ...SEVERSON: This one, in Washington, was sponsored by the volunteer border patrol group calling themselves Minutemen. Their founder accused Cardinal Mahony of encouraging illegal immigration. There are also religious groups demanding a harder line, including the Southern Baptist Convention. So says Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Land was with a small group invited to the White House to discuss the issue. He says he told the president that Southern Baptists are deeply offended by the government's loose enforcement of border security.
Mr. APPLEBY: Matthew 25:35, in which Jesus is talking about how we will gain the kingdom of heaven. He talks about feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger. We think that in the face of the migrant, we see the face of Christ.
Dr. LAND: If they are homeless, we should give them shelter. But if they're here illegally, and they're breaking the laws of our country, then we have a right to expect the government to punish lawbreakers.
