Church leaders criticize Alabama's immigration law

Alabama's Episcopalian bishop has joined Catholic and Methodist leaders in the state in condemning Alabama's harsh new immigration law."The recently adopted bill HB 56 will make it impossible to love and be hospitable to our neighbors as we ought to be," the Right Rev. Henry N. Parsley said in a state­ment released Wednesday. "It is a profoundly disappointing decision and a sad moment for our state."

Parsley's statement comes days after the release of an open letter drafted by Methodist clergy members that condemned the leg­islation.William Willimon, bishop of the North Alabama United Meth­odist Conference, posted the letter on the conference's website, while calling the bill "the meanest immi­grant legislation bill in the nation."

Willimon said in an interview Wednesday that Methodist minis­ters in the northern part of the state had run into difficulties pro­viding aid to Hispanic individuals following April's devastating tor­nadoes."We'd say 'No questions asked,'" Willimon said. "And they were still very fearful. A minister talked to me and said 'I know these people are documented, and they're fine. But they may have people in the house who aren't.' I thought they were overreacting. And then came this bill."

The Methodists' letter says those who support the law have "valid concerns" about the possi­ble strains undocumented work­ers may be placing on the state, but adds that the law would strain education and law enforcement services.

"As Christian ministers ... we not only believe that this law is not in the state's best interest, but we also believe it contradicts the essential tenets of the Christian faith," the letter says.Willimon said Hispanics are a growing part of Methodist congregations around the state, and felt the bill aimed at intimidating them.

"I wanted to tell the world this does not typify Alabama," Willimon said. "There are plenty of people of good will in Alabama who are in no way represented by that attitude."

Alabama's Catholic hierarchy has also condemned the law. In April, Archbishop Thomas Rodi of Mobile and Bishop Robert Baker of Birmingham co-signed a letter saying the law violated the First Amendment to the Constitution, "in particular by criminalizing our Gospel imperative of serving the poor."Rodi and Parker also said the bill created "an atmosphere of fear and suspicion."

"Whatever the outcome of this process, we assure you that the doors of the Catholic churches and Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese of Mobile and the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama will remain open to all," the letter states.

Bishop Paul Leeland of the Alabama-West Florida United Methodist Conference has also condemned the legislation."HB 56 violates the basic understanding of our Christian faith as the church is asked to serve in all ways to all people at all times," Leeland said in a statement. "It is essential that we manifest the presence of Christ in the community regardless of a person's status."

Requests for comment from the Alabama Baptist State Convention were not returned.Carol Swain, a professor of political science and law at the Vanderbilt University School of Law, said criticism of the bill came from some of "the most liberal" religious organizations, and said they were trying to curry favor with their Hispanic congregations.

"I think it's more inhumane to come to the country and into a situation where you're ripe for exploitation, but your very presence diminishes the quality of life for citizens competing for jobs and service, when jobs are already going as far as they can," she said.Sanford Turner, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of South Alabama, said the group has not taken a formal stand on the legislation, but said he personally believed the church had a mandate from the book of Exodus to look after sojourners.

"Throughout the Old Testament, there are three categories of people that are lifted up -- widows, orphans and sojourners," Turner said. "They are lifted up because they are the ones who had no power, because they could be easily exploited and were."