Posted on 12/29/2009 10:26:24 AM PST by AuntB
Poll: Pew and Pulpit Disagree on Immigration
Zogby Survey Finds Religious Leaders and Members at Odds
WASHINGTON (December 29, 2009) - In contrast to many national religious leaders who are lobbying for increases in immigration, a new Zogby poll of likely voters who belong to the same religious communities finds strong support for reducing overall immigration. Moreover, members strongly disagree with their leaders’ contention that more immigrant workers need to be allowed into the country. Also, most parishioners and congregants prefer more enforcement to cause illegal workers to go home, rather than legalization of illegal immigrants, which most religious leaders prefer. The survey of Catholic, mainline Protestant, born-again Protestant, and Jewish voters used neutral language and was one of the largest polls on immigration ever done.
Among the findings:
Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement.
* Catholics: Just 11 percent said illegal immigration was caused by not letting in enough legal immigrants; 78 percent said it was caused by inadequate enforcement efforts. * Mainline Protestants: 18 percent said not enough legal immigration; 78 percent said inadequate enforcement. * Born-Again Protestants: 9 percent said not enough legal immigration; 85 percent said inadequate enforcement. * Jews: 21 percent said not enough legal immigration; 60 percent said inadequate enforcement.
Unlike religious leaders who argue that more unskilled immigrant workers are needed, most members think there are plenty of Americans to do such work.
* Catholics: 12 percent said legal immigration should be increased to fill such jobs; 69 percent said there are plenty of Americans available to do such jobs, employers just need to pay more. * Mainline Protestants: 10 percent said increase immigration; 73 percent said plenty of Americans are available. * Born-Again Protestants: 7 percent said increase immigration; 75 percent said plenty of Americans are available. * Jews: 16 percent said increase immigration; 61 percent said plenty of Americans available.
When asked to choose between enforcement that would cause illegal immigrants to go home over time or a conditional pathway to citizenship, most members choose enforcement.
* Catholics: 64 percent support enforcement to encourage illegals to go home; 23 percent support conditional legalization. * Mainline Protestants: 64 percent support enforcement; 24 percent support legalization. * Born-Again Protestants: 76 percent support enforcement; 12 percent support legalization. * Jews: 43 percent support enforcement; 40 percent support legalization.
In contrast to many religious leaders, most members think immigration is too high.
* Catholics: 69 percent said immigration is too high; 4 percent said too low; 14 percent just right. * Mainline Protestants: 72 percent said too high; 2 percent said too low; 11 percent just right. * Born-Again Protestants: 78 percent too high; 3 percent said too low; 9 percent just right. * Jews: 50 percent said it is too high; 5 percent said too low; 22 percent just right.
Discussion Most major denominations agree that illegal immigrants must be treated humanely. But the leadership often goes much further and takes the position that illegal immigration is caused, at least in part, by not letting in enough legal immigrants. They then call for increases in the number of workers and family members allowed into the country. For example, early this year, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) issued a resolution stating that, “Due to the limited number of visas, millions have entered the United States without proper documentation.” The NAE then calls for increases in the number of immigrant workers allowed in. The Catholic Church states that the law must be reformed so that more “laborers from other countries can enter the country legally.” The Episcopal Church adopted a resolution in July of this year stating that, “Immigrants are filling the jobs that go unwanted and unfilled by U.S. citizens.” The resolution makes clear more immigrant workers need to be allowed in legally. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in November 2009 adopted a document that states illegal immigrants do jobs that “citizens often will not do” and that legal immigration should be increased to meet, “the annual need for foreign workers.” A Commission of the Union for Reform Judaism argues that limits on immigration contribute to illegal immigration, and calls for legislation that “Increases the number of visas allowing unskilled laborers to work in the U.S.”
Most parishioners believe that enforcing the law and improving the wages and working conditions of unskilled workers to attract more Americans is the best way to deal with illegal immigration. The huge divide between leaders and members means that if there is a full-blown immigration debate next year it will be all the more contentious, with Jewish and Christian leaders on one side of the issue, their members on the other, and elected officials in the middle.
"Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement."
“Most parishioners believe that enforcing the law and improving the wages and working conditions of unskilled workers to attract more Americans is the best way to deal with illegal immigration. The huge divide between leaders and members means that if there is a full-blown immigration debate next year it will be all the more contentious, with Jewish and Christian leaders on one side of the issue, their members on the other, and elected officials in the middle.”
Aside from the economic collapse, this is the one main issue which lost the GOP the Presidential election and control of Congress.
Catholics should reduce or eliminate funding the Catholic Church to bring it to heel on this subject. Ditto hierarchially organized Protestant Churches and Jews.
Congregationally based churches should simply remove any clergymen who support illegals.
ping
Although a devout Catholic I am not, I still hold to the basic fundamentals of Catholicisim. However, when the Church trods into political issues I am very discriminate. The Church’s embrace of illegal immigration was largely instrumental in my decision to step back from the Church, and I have ceased to support it with either my timne or my money. Illegal immigration has been most destructive of our nation’s unity, as it is a third-world tidal wave of uneducated, unassimmilable, and socialist-embracing misfits. No thanks.
“Aside from the economic collapse, this is the one main issue which lost the GOP the Presidential election and control of Congress.”
Absolutely. But be careful, you’ll get the party first, squatter support squad crowd all twisted up bringing up facts like that.
I talked with Republican party here in HC MD and the businesses push for affordable housing, section 8 and subsidized homeownership. Meanwhile we have one of the highest combination of state and local taxes in the nation, income plus property.
A republican candidate for county executive 2006 was promoting a land development tax so we wouldnt get stuck with all the infrastructure associated with new developments, democrats won (every election in county) and wouldnt think of it. The developers fund the elected (Dems in this case) and they tax us.
MD was recently forced by federal law real-ID to stop giving illegals licenses.
No amnesty for foreign invaders; not now, not ever!!
If those folks were REALLY concerned about the party, they would examine the reasons for the losses in the 2008 election and 2006 midterms.
The voting Public elected Obama because they were sick of Bush and the Congressional GOP leadership. They didn't elect Obama and the Democrats because they wanted a Communist state centered around the cult of an individual with a globalist transnational political philosophy - which is exactly what they are getting now.
It isn't enough - in the long run - to just be against what Obama supports. Its important to have a political philosophy which reflects the views of the average American, based on the principles of the Founding Fathers and the Constitution.
"Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement."
“national religious leaders who are lobbying for increases in immigration”
Their goal is the same as the Democrats. More people that they can control to do their wishes not Gods wishes.
Church leaders are the happiest when the people are subject to a Monarchy. They have someone to rail against so that they can also live like kings.
“Their goal is the same as the Democrats. More people that they can control to do their wishes not Gods wishes.”
I’m afraid you’re right. It’s all about power and control.
The same ‘religious leaders’ who want open borders are the same who wail about ‘carbon footprints’ from humanity.
They want a higher population from immigration, yet they want more abortion, birth control, and in some cases a one-child limit.
Go figure!
“Illegal immigration has been most destructive of our nation’s unity, as it is a third-world tidal wave of uneducated, unassimmilable, and socialist-embracing misfits. No thanks.”
B U M P
“No amnesty for foreign invaders; not now, not ever!!”
B I G
B U M P
I am so tired of this crap. When did the U.S. become the world's welfare provider?
I wonder what the members of our second largest denomination in America said?
“The Episcopal Church adopted a resolution in July of this year stating that, “Immigrants are filling the jobs that go unwanted and unfilled by U.S. citizens.””
Pat Buchanan wrote an excellent article debunking that myth.
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