For Immediate Release
August 2, 2014
Contact, Jeanne Schuler Omaha Together One Community (402) 344-4401 omahatogether@otoc.org Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed (402) 438-8853 jsheldon@neappleseed.org
Nebraska faith leaders urge values of compassion, humanity for children fleeing violence
Today, a collection of more than 90 Nebraska faith and community leaders released a statement calling for Nebraska to act in accordance with our state’s values of compassion and humanity when dealing with immigrant children who have fled violence and are seeking safety in our state and country.
“We are distressed by the cries of the young mothers, children, and adolescents who have risked their lives to flee terrible violence and now are seeking safety in our state. This situation demands we act in accordance with our best values of compassion, and humanity. Nebraskans are good people and good neighbors who value peace and protection for vulnerable children who have fled terrible violence.
“Lashing out against these children violates our integrity as a nation and as people of faith: ‘… show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.’ (Zechariah 7:9-10.).
“We take seriously our government’s concerns for national security and the orderly control of immigration affairs. However, the solution does not lie in punishing the children. We must welcome our brothers and sisters seeking safety and ensure they receive the proper screening, protection, and legal counsel that our laws demand as well as the peaceful protections commanded by our faith.”
Signers of this statement are:
Jeanne Schuler – OTOC Immigration Action Team Co-Chair
Rev. Dr. Damon Laaker – Grace Lutheran Church
Fr. Thomas Glennon – Columban Fathers
Fr. Jason Emerson – Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
Rev. Betsy Bennett – Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska
Sr Valeria Lewandoski – Servants of Mary
Nathan Morgan – Director, United Methodist Ministries
Rev. Frank Rivas – First Unitarian Church of Omaha
Sr. Kathleen Erickson- Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community
Rev Jane Florence – First United Methodist
Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede – South Gate UMC
Kelly Tadeo Orbik – Associate Director, Creighton Center for Service and Justice
Rev. Zach Anderson – Hanscom Park United Methodist Church
Marissa Kreifels – Hanscom Park United Methodist Church
Brittany Hanson – Concerned citizen
Rev. Kimberly Morrow – First-Plymouth Church Lincoln
Rev. Lori Miller – Blue Springs UMC
Rev Eric Elnes – Countryside Community Church
Stephen Griffith – Saint Paul United Methodist Church
Reverend Kara Hillhouse
Andrea Paret – United Methodist Church
Rev. Norman F. Hunke – St. Charles Borromeo
Mary Spurgeon – First United Methodist Church, Omaha
Rev. Kim Roberts – St. Martin of Tours Episcopal
Rita Bianchi – St. Pius X Parish OTOC
Kathleen Grant, MD – OTOC Immigration Action Team
Rev. Chuck Bentjen – Emmanuel Lutheran Church, ELCA
Linda Redfern – 1sr UMC Scottsbluff
Barbara Snyder – Sidney Saint Patrick’s
Rev. Debra McKnight – Urban Abbey/FUMC
Fr. John Montag SJ – Society of Jesus
Rev. Kenneth Allen – Zion Baptist Church
Karen McElroy – Holy Name OTOC Core Team Chair
Cynthia Kritenbrink – St. Charles Borromeo
Rev. Lyn Seiser – Prairie View UMC
Deanna Holland – United Methodist Church
Lawrence Kritenbrink – St. Charles Borromeo
Sr. Margaret Stratman – Servants of Mary Sisters
Kenneth Moore- Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska
Sr. Mary Hogan – Servants of Mary
Dr. Roger Bergman – St. John’s at Creighton University
Sr. Elizabeth Hakel – Servants of Mary
Ken Reed-Bouley – Director, Creighton Center for Service and Justice
Rev. Lowen Kruse – United Methodist Church
Rabbi Aryeh Azriel – Temple Israel
Rev. Sergio Amaya – iglesia luterana San Andres
Rev. Michael Ostrom – Grace Lutheran Church
Randy and Connie Kollasch – St. John Catholic Church
Rev. Kurt Stecker – FUMC of Plattsmouth
Rev. Ron Roemmich – United Methodist Minister
Sr. Joy Delores-Weideman – Servants of Mary-Omaha
Sr. Marilyn Ross – Sisters of Mercy
Mike Poulin – St. Vincent de Paul Parish
Bishop Brian Maas – Nebraska Synod ELCA
Rev. Charlotte Abram – The United Methodist Church
Rev. Benjamin Finnell – Allen Chapel AME
Rev. Dennis Anderson – ELCA
Rev. Robert Buschkemper – Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Sr. Evangela Dorris – Sisters of Mercy
Robert Ramaley – Omaha friends meeting (Quaker)
Donald and Rev. Barbara Bredthauer – United Methodist Church
Mark Hoeger – Augustana Lutheran
Patricia Bass – St. Benedict the Moor
Mary McKeighan – St. Geralds Church OTOC
Mary Kalamaja – St. Cecilia’s Cathedral
Jane Erdenberger – Augustana Lutheran
Sr. Mary Clare Welling, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Barbara Bruchard, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Carol Kamalski, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Mary Ann Murphy, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Mary Ann Doyle, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Carol Loring, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Terese Lux, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Dorothy Moran, OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Carol Claussen OSM – Servants of Mary
Sr. Mary Alice Haley, OSM – Servants of Mary
Robert Rademacher – Grace Lutheran
Rev. Marshall Johnson – St. Luke United Methodist
Mr. Don Zebolski – Holy Family Catholic
Fr. Mike Eckley – St. Pius X Church
Sr. Christine Szoka, OSM – Servants of Mary
Rabbi Josh Brown – Temple Israel
Roselyn Volkmer – St. Pius X
Gloria Austerberry – Augustana
Mary Kerres – St Leo
Anna Lee Welch – Concerned Citizen
Margaret Hoarty – St. Pius X Catholic Church
Rev Pamela Owens – Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Scott McNeill – Second Unitarian Church of Omaha
Katy Salzman – St. Pius X Omaha
Todd Salzman – St. Pius X Omaha
Delores Maycock – St. Paul UMC
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