Pax Christi USA opposes the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold President Trump’s Muslim ban. Trump has spewed caustic remarks against people who are Muslim since the beginning of his campaign for president, and now we see his spoken word becoming policy and law. This unjust law upheld by the Supreme Court disregards the life and dignity of human persons, families and especially at this time our Muslims sisters and brothers. This policy goes against the Gospel and Catholic Social Teachings which are foundational principles of Pax Christi USA.
What Trump touts as a “travel ban” or as a policy that “keeps the US safe” is actually racism, hatred, and a denial to refugees. Because of this ban, refugees from Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, and Venezuela can no longer come to the US. Many of these countries are war torn and people are in desperate need of relief. Pax Christi USA does not believe in an America that closes its borders to people in grave need.
Sadly, this is one of many Trump policies created to keep people of color and people in grave need out of the US and is a continued rejection of how this country, a nation of immigrants, was built. We believe in an America that espouses the words of Emma Lazarus, engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Pax Christi USA will work endlessly for our country to embrace and return to these values.
Photo from flickr.com
Thank you , Pax Christi, for responding to all the important happenings in the Trump government with a Christian answer, both kind and bold. I pray that you continue to listen so closely to the inspiration of the Spirit. May she stay with you and surround us citizens with hope, love and grace.
Bless your efforts! SO many of us are behind you.
What who can stop this HATE
Thank you, Pax Christi for responding to this radically unchristian decision. We are in dark times and need the Light and Spirit you bring.
I completely support your response. Given who you are as an organization that deeply espouses Gospel values, speaking your truth in love through this powerful statement can hopefully touch “hardened hearts” . We live in hope.
Thank you, Pax Christi, for speaking up and bearing witness to the Gospel of Jesus.
Thank you, Pax Christi…I totally support your stand, “our” stand!. You indeed are the voice of Christ’s Peace.
Colin Powell, who knows something about being a stranger in America, once said “Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer’s no. That’s not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim American kid believing that he or she could be president?” Shame on SCOTUS, shame on the President, and thank God for Sonia Sotomayor and Pax Christi!
Thank you for sharing this statement. It is critical that we voice our concerns about this tragic decision.
So glad Pax Christi took this stand. I am proud to be a member of this group,
We are grateful Americans (United States Americans.) As Americans, we know our heritage is DIVERSE, beautiful, strong, and God-fearing. Welcome migrants! Welcome refugees! Our hearts are open to your beauty and strength.
Kate Uhlir, Chair of Cleveland Children’s Coalition
Judge Leonie Brinkema had issued a preliminary injunction, asserting that President Trumps campaign vow to institute a “Muslim ban” violated the First Amendment. It was unconstitutional because it had religious bias at its heart – an appeals court in the same state ruled along the same lines on the second ban too. Ruling on the second version, the Hawaii court also dismissed the government’s argument that the ban is not anti-Muslim because it targets all individuals from the six countries, regardless of religion, and the countries themselves represent only a small fraction of the world’s Muslim population. The court ruling clearly said, “The illogic of the government’s contentions is palpable. The notion that one can demonstrate animus toward any group of people only by targeting all of them at once is fundamentally flawed,” pointing out that the countries’ populations were between 90% and 99% Muslim.