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Immigrants to Talk at Churches, Synagogues (Life in a Sanctuary City)
Madison.com ^ | September 1, 2007 | Pat Schneider

Posted on 9/2/2007, 12:22:00 AM by Diana in Wisconsin

Many people in the Madison area may never get the chance to hear for themselves what the experience of today's immigrant workers is like, says Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman.

Some of them will get that chance this weekend.

"Immigrant Workers in the Pulpit" is bringing local workers to 15 area churches and synagogues to share at worship services their experiences as immigrants on the job.

In a variation on the Interfaith Coalition for Workers Justice of South Central Wisconsin's annual Labor in the Pulpits, the organization is focusing on immigrant workers to give them a voice in the midst of red-hot political controversy over the status of immigrants in the United States.

"This is important because of the tenor in American society," Zimmerman said. "There is such vicious discourse on the immigration issue. It is important for people of faith to hear people who are immigrants and really struggling in society."

One worker scheduled to speak, Mexican immigrant Ricardo D., said he wants people to feel the humanity of immigrant workers.

"It's like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported," he said in a statement.

Participating congregations include Temple Beth El, Beth Israel Center, Community of Hope United Church of Christ, First Baptist Church, First Congregational Church of Christ, James Reeb Unitarian-Universalist, Madison Mennonite, Sherman Avenue United Methodist, Trinity United Methodist, Unity of Madison and University United Methodist.

Zimmerman's congregation, Sha'arei Shamayim, hosted a worker speaker last week. "The person who spoke to us was really moving," she said. "It was the first time he shared his story with people different from him. It was valuable on a deep level, there's definitely been discussion around it."

Rev. Jakes Voker, pastor at Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church, said his congregation has been involved in the annual worker talks. Participating in the immigrant worker program was a natural progression.

"It's not a new thing for us to be involved with social issues," he said. "Our congregation is very open-minded."

The coalition wants to expand the program beyond "the choir" of congregations dedicated to social justice to faith communities for whom taking on a potentially divisive issue during services would be a stretch.

"This is to begin the process of getting faith communities more involved," said Rabbi Renee Bauer, who organized the program. "Our goal is to keep the conversation going and expanding."

Zimmerman said communities of faith must take on a bigger role in the immigration issue.

"If religion means anything, we must apply our values to the world," she said. "That means getting involved in political issues."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: aliens; antibacklash; immigrantlist; immigration; madisonwi; religiousleft; sanctuary; umc
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You're ILLEGAL CRIMINAL INVADERS! Which word in that sentence don't you understand? Yeesh!
1 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:22:04 AM by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

“You’re ILLEGAL CRIMINAL INVADERS! Which word in that sentence don’t you understand? Yeesh!”

B U M P !


2 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:24:49 AM by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Given the current climate re illegals, this in your face approach is a good thing.

Eventually, our ‘leaders’ will be forced to follow the will of the people and arrest these criminals.


3 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:25:30 AM by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Can’t Wisconsin just give Madison to Cuba and get it over with?


4 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:27:33 AM by Volunteer (Just so you know, I am ashamed the Dixie Chicks make records in Nashville.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman


5 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:28:11 AM by ichabod1 ("Self defense is not only our right, it is our duty." President Ronald Reagan)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

“One worker scheduled to speak, Mexican immigrant Ricardo D., said he wants people to feel the humanity of immigrant workers. “It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported,” he said in a statement”

REAL IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT FEARFUL OF BEING DEPORTED

ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE FUGITIVES ON THE LAM AND ARE RIOTING IN THE STREET DARING ICE TO ARREST THEM...


6 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:30:30 AM by Tennessee Nana (AY)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

“It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing...”

It’s not a form of terrorism. It’s the fear most criminals feel.


7 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:30:35 AM by whatexit
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To: Tennessee Nana

“It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported,” he said in a statement”
::::::
Yeah, it is a tough life when you are a CRIMINAL, ain’t it? Sorry, but the people feeling the “terror” are the REAL AMERICAN CITIZENS who are the victims of the COST, TAXATION, CRIME, DRUGS, SLAVE-TRADE AND DISEASE, to say nothing of our government’s complicity in supporting these CRIMINALS. That is the real terror.


8 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:50:20 AM by EagleUSA
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

It’s bad enough when the dems pander; but this.

Illegals you will be sent home; so don’t come crying to us with your sob stories. You should be in your home countries making them better and btw take our politicians with you.


9 posted on 9/2/2007, 12:57:40 AM by freekitty (May the eagles long fly over our beautiful and free American sky.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Participating congregations include Temple Beth El, Beth Israel Center, Community of Hope United Church of Christ, First Baptist Church, First Congregational Church of Christ, James Reeb Unitarian-Universalist, Madison Mennonite, Sherman Avenue United Methodist, Trinity United Methodist, Unity of Madison and University United Methodist.

This is political and is a direct violation of their tax exempt status.

10 posted on 9/2/2007, 1:02:16 AM by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Glad to see no Lutheran congregations on that list...to invite such a "guest preacher" would be in violation of the Augsburg Confession:

Article XIV: Of Ecclesiastical Order.

Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.

http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html#article14

11 posted on 9/2/2007, 1:04:40 AM by lightman (The Office of the Keys should be exercised as some ministry needs to be Exorcised.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Time to protest outside these political buildings that pass as places of worship.


12 posted on 9/2/2007, 1:05:39 AM by donna (Equal justice for U.S. citizens!)
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To: org.whodat

It certainly is.


13 posted on 9/2/2007, 1:06:34 AM by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
"It's like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported"

If you're here legally, you have no fear.

14 posted on 9/2/2007, 1:16:05 AM by sionnsar (trad-anglican.faithweb.com |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Give them AMNESTY!

Give them 30 days to GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY!!


15 posted on 9/2/2007, 1:37:26 AM by mountainlyons (Hard core conservative)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

One worker scheduled to speak, Mexican immigrant Ricardo D., said he wants people to feel the humanity of immigrant workers.

Ricardo, I feel your humanity, I don’t care.
GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!


16 posted on 9/2/2007, 1:37:55 AM by sheana
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

this business just grieves me.


17 posted on 9/2/2007, 3:00:33 AM by ckilmer
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To: whatexit
“It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing...” It’s not a form of terrorism. It’s the fear most criminals feel.

These people wouldn't know the truth if it hit them in the face... "I robbed that bank and now I'm being terrorized because I have to worry about the police finding out and arresting me..". Legal immigrants have none of that worry...don't do the crime if you can't do the time....

18 posted on 9/2/2007, 3:16:05 AM by Niteflyr ("If you’re drawing flak, you know you're over the target".)
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To: EagleUSA
“It’s like a form of terrorism, the fear we are facing. Families today sit around the table not knowing if tomorrow they will be separated or deported,” he said in a statement” :::::: Yeah, it is a tough life when you are a CRIMINAL, ain’t it? Sorry, but the people feeling the “terror” are the REAL AMERICAN CITIZENS who are the victims of the COST, TAXATION, CRIME, DRUGS, SLAVE-TRADE AND DISEASE, to say nothing of our government’s complicity in supporting these CRIMINALS. That is the real terror.

The REAL terrorism is hordes of illegal aliens and Aztlan activists marching and chanting "Viva LaRaza!" in the streets making threats and demands and carrying foreign flags ....

19 posted on 9/2/2007, 3:21:10 AM by Niteflyr ("If you’re drawing flak, you know you're over the target".)
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To: ckilmer

This feels weirder than the twighlight zone. When someone says that illegals are acting “Holier than thou” in flouting the law, now they’re actually DOING IT FROM THE PULPIT!


20 posted on 9/2/2007, 3:23:57 AM by tbw2 (Science fiction with real science - "Humanity's Edge" by Tamara Wilhite)
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