Letter from June 26 to Senators signed by our Bishop among other religious leaders:![]()
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www.nalecprayer.org/_files/ugd/2cf5f9_ffa1c518fcce457ea312558cb1a78e1e.pdf![]()
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June 26, 2025![]()
US Senate![]()
Washington, DC 20510![]()
Dear Senator:![]()
We, the undersigned faith leaders, write to ask for your opposition to HR 1, the budget reconciliation![]()
legislation currently being considered by the US Senate. We believe that the changes made by the US![]()
Senate to the legislation are insufficient and do not significantly mitigate its adverse effects.![]()
First, it provides tens of billions of dollars to the government to undertake a mass deportation campaign![]()
which will separate US families, harm US-citizen and immigrant children, and sow chaos in local![]()
communities. It will spur immigration raids across the nation, harming hard-working immigrant families![]()
essential to our economy and causing widespread unrest like we recently witnessed in Los Angeles.![]()
This funding also will be used to target faith communities, as the Department of Homeland Security![]()
(DHS) has removed places of worship from its sensitive locations list, allowing ICE agents to enter them![]()
for enforcement purposes. We have already witnessed a reduction in attendance at many of our![]()
religious services in our denominations, as the threat of enforcement has deterred many families from![]()
practicing their faith.![]()
Moreover, the bill provides funding for a border wall along the US-Mexico border which we believe will![]()
drive migrants into the most remote regions of the border and lead to an increase in migrant deaths. It![]()
also would hurt the local environment along the border and force desperate asylum-seekers seeking![]()
safety to increasingly rely on human smugglers.![]()
As you should know, our faith organizations have long favored the creation of legal avenues for migration![]()
and a legalization program for immigrants who have lived in the US for years and contributed their hard![]()
work to our economy. We believe the adoption of these policies, instead of the implementation of a![]()
mass deportation campaign, would not only benefit immigrant workers and their families, but be in the![]()
best interest of our nation.![]()
Second, the legislation makes severe cuts in health-care coverage and food assistance to millions of both![]()
low-income citizens and legal residents, including asylum-seekers and refugees, driving them deeper into![]()
poverty. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill transfers wealth from![]()
those in the bottom 10 percent of income to those in the top 10 percent of income in our nation,![]()
increasing the already large gap between the rich and the poor.![]()
From our various faith perspectives, the moral test of a nation is how it treats those most in need of![]()
support. In our view, this legislation will harm the poor and vulnerable in our nation, to the detriment of![]()
the common good. Its passage would be a moral failure for American society as a whole.![]()
We respectfully ask you to vote “no” on the budget reconciliation legislation, HR 1.![]()
Sincerely,![]()
His Eminence Cardinal Robert W. McElroy Archbishop of Washington, DC ![]()
His Eminence Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, CSsR![]()
Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey![]()
Imam Jamal Rahman Interfaith Community Sanctuary, Seattle, Washington Rabbi Daniel Weiner![]()
Seattle, Washington![]()
The Rt. Reverend Philip N. LaBelle Bishop![]()
Episcopal Diocese of Olympia![]()
Reverend Douglas Avilesbernal, Executive Minister - Evergreen Baptist Association![]()
Presiding Elder Spencer Francis Barrett, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Cascade District![]()
Rabbi Sarah Bassin, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (Rabbi-in-residence)![]()
Most Reverend Ramon Bejarano, Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego, California![]()
Most Reverend Steven Biegler, Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming![]()
Most Reverend Roy E. Campbell, Jr., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, DC![]()
Most Reverend Anthony C. Celino, Auxiliary Bishop of El Paso, Texas![]()
The Rt. Reverend Angela M. Cortiñas, VII Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas![]()
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop Emeritus of Brooklyn, New York![]()
Most Reverend John P. Dolan, Bishop of Phoenix, Arizona![]()
Most Reverend Eusebio L. Elizondo, MSpS, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle, Washington![]()
Most Reverend Paul D. Etienne, Archbishop of Seattle, Washington![]()
Reverend Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley, Synod of the Northeast, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).![]()
Imam Taha Hassane, Islamic Center of San Diego, California![]()
Reverend Lynne Hinton, Conference Director, New Mexico Conference of Churches![]()
Bishop Richard Jaech, Southwestern Washington Synod - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America![]()
Most Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz, Bishop of Jackson, Mississippi![]()
Bishop Dave Nagler, Pacifica Synod – ELCA![]()
Most Reverend Michael Pham, Bishop-elect of San Diego, California![]()
Most Reverend Felipe Pulido, Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego, California![]()
The Rt. Reverend Jennifer A. Reddall, VI Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona![]()
Ruling Elder Conrad M. Rocha, Synod of the Southwest (PCUSA)![]()
Most Reverend Mitchell Thomas Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri![]()
Reverend Dr. Gabriel Salguero,Pastor, The Gathering Place and President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Orlando, Florida![]()
Most Reverend Frank Schuster, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle, Washington![]()
The Rt. Reverend Susan Brown Snook, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego![]()
Most Reverend Jaime Soto, Bishop of Sacramento, California![]()
Most Reverend John Stowe, OFM Conv., Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky![]()
Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson, Bishop of Yakima, Washington![]()
Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee, Northwest Washington Synod, ELCA![]()
Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenberger, Archbishop of Detroit, Michigan![]()
Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico![]()
Institute Leadership Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas:![]()
Sister Susan M. Sanders, RSM, President![]()
Sister Teresa Bednarz, RSM![]()
Sister Patricia C. Flynn, RSM![]()
Sister Judith Frikker, RSM![]()
Sister Maureen King RSM
www.nalecprayer.org
Emmanuel's eNews for June 29.![]()
Read an important message to the church from the Episcopal Church's Executive Council. Click here: - mailchi.mp/orcasepiscopal/jun-29-2025
Emmanuel eNews for June 22, 2025 click here: mailchi.mp/orcasepiscopal/jun-22-2025
A Letter from the Episcopal Bishops in the State of California
mailchi.mp
Like all Californians, we are watching with great concern the events unfolding around immigration protests in Los Angeles. We are deeply concerned about the ICE raids and about the potential for viole...
Emmanuel's eNews for Sunday June 15, 2025 click here:- mailchi.mp/orcasepiscopal/jun-15-2025