What Do Christian Critics of Refugee Ban Think of America?

What Do Christian Critics of Refugee Ban Think of America?

on January 30, 2017

Editor’s Note: This piece about the refugee ban originally appeared on The Hill in its entirety. Read the full version of this piece here

Numerous Christian groups have denounced the new moratorium on refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including a coalition of mostly liberal Protestants, of Evangelicals, and the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. As humanitarians, they object to any hindrance in the flow of suffering refugees from troubled areas. Their empathy and aspirations are admirable.

But there is one important section of the refugee executive order on which they do not directly comment and which merits serious Christian reflection:

In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law. In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Here is stated what America generally has always expected of persons who come to America to stay: that they will uphold American democratic principles about legal equality and liberty for all. Across American history there have sometimes been unjust immigration restrictions based on ethnicity. There have also been justified restrictions against persons who reject America’s democratic ethos. Anarchists, Bolsheviks, Fascists, Nazis, with other totalitarian sympathizers and persecutors have been blocked from entry to the U.S. …

America’s various religious traditions, starting with the early Protestants and later joined by Catholics and Jews, were creators and ardent stewards of America’s unique ethos of democracy and liberty. Persons of other faiths and no faith have faithfully melded into this ethos.

But this ethos must always be articulated and defended if it is to persevere for the common good of all.

Continue reading this piece about the refugee ban here.

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