Sunday is Fathers Day....
We can not celebrate this day in our own homes while we, the United States of America, violently take children away from fathers and mothers.
18
They denounce a single policy?
They should denounce their religion and its mulligan of the amoral lying conman Trump. Their hypocrisy is simply astounding.
8
I am going to suggest a question about immigration no one is asking. My understanding is that this “caravan” worked its way up from central America over the past several months. This is certainly a planned and organized activity. How did this happen and who paid for it? (I know I am writing like a Republican inquisitor, but bear with me). Trump wears many targets on his coat. And one of them is “I hate migration”. Another is “the election was rigged against me”, “I am the victim”, or “I hate chemical weapons”. My theory that these attitudes and biases opens him up to manipulation by our adversaries.
My theory is that one V. Putin for a very modest amount of money, paid for these caravans. He knew once they got to the border that the U.S. authorities would have to “process their asylum claims”, according to U.S. Law. The U.S. predictably’ behaved badly, by separating children from their parents. He knows this is going to cause a problem for America in the eyes of the world. In my opinion, the Puppetmaster has scored another one against us!
1
are you alright in the head? Trump is doing everything he said he would during his campaigns. He only cares about and end goal and not the way he gets there.
2
This isn't a result of the caravan this is a typical recent summer at the southern border. Numbers of asylum seekers from central america and Mexico has gone up because those countries are facing their own crisis of their inability to control gangs and narco traffickers who have infiltrated and corrupted police, courts and local politicians in those countries. Entire towns and areas are effectively controlled by the criminal gangs. Demanding their authorities take action against the organized crime can result in beatings torture and death sometimes at the hands of their own police who are corrupt and working for the gang.
5
This story notes that the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution that one minister in attendance called, "a really strong statement". Well, maybe. But pretty clearly not as strong a statement as this same group of folks made when they voted overwhelmingly for the guy who made it the centerpiece of his campaign to do EXACTLY what they now pretend to criticize. What is even more interesting is that, in their religion, this makes them moral leaders. Their God sees no hypocrisy.
6
In reality (and practice), Donald Trump knows as much about the “gospels of Jesus Christ” as an insect knows how to build a rocket ship to the moon.
12
No outrage from the religious right about Trump's side girls, or the abortions he's arranged for some of them while he was in office and married? No outrage about his charity scams, where Trump promises donations in the millions from his foundation but never coughs it up? No outrage about Trump's deep love for Putin and Kim Jong-un, both the atheistic heads of Communist nations? Billy Graham's boy seems to specialize in selective morality.
11
Who is parroting whom blaming the whole thing on Democrats: Sarah Sanders or Franklin Graham? Or are the two just soulmates? Immigration policy can't be enforced without inflicting hardship and pain. But this so-called zero tolerance policy probably violates both statutes and treaties, and approaches being just plain sadistic.
5
I seem to recall one presidential candidate who was raised in the Methodist faith, attended Methodist Sunday School, and later in life taught in those same Methodist Sunday schools. Now, what was her name again?
6
Resolutions and public statements by the Southern Baptist Convention are certainly important and have their place. What matters most, though, is what the SBC leadership is saying to the administration in private. If they are telling Trump and his people to lighten up on the harsh treatment of immigrants you can believe they will lighten up. Trump can't take the risk of alienating his most important backers.
1
As a Christian I am so confused and puzzled by evangelicals. They were silent on DACA, Charlottesville, Roy Moore, police shootings, the NFL right for peaceful protest, etc. While I'm grateful they are finding their voice on children being separated from parents and for keeping asylum seekers their actions continue to puzzle me. Nothing 45 has done exhibits any of the tenets of the gospel. Nothing yet they flock to him as Corker said in cult-like fashion. Perhaps taking kids from families may finally be their tipping point.
11
Thank you all , for speaking up and affirming my faith in faith . This type of policy is almost akin to Rachel crying for her children , ripping children from a mother's bosom is not what we are .
9
sm
I suggest you find out why this is happening.
4
I'm surprised that conservatives still claim to follow Jesus, considering his belief that a Christian should feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the widow and orphans. The Republican party has no interest in any of those things. Today's conservative wants to punish, imprison, condemn and hate, making as muc money as they can in the process.
If you're looking for Jesus, don't go to a mega-church; you won't find him there. Sessions and his crew wouldn't give Jesus the time of day. You'll find Jesus among the people giving hope to the downtrodden and the needy.
22
When people think they want Trump to be impeached, I remind them that in his place they will get Pence. Without saying it flat-out Pence acts like a man who wants a theocracy. You see the influence of extreme religion on this administration. The evangelicals lack of embarrassment about their rationalizations is breathtaking. The Constitution speaks of freedom of religion, but we really need a law about freedom FROM religion, one that takes away the tax-exempt status of churches the minute they preach any kind of politics, and forbids politicians to preach about God from their political bully pulpit.
12
Oh, my goodness. What are good christian hypocrites to do?
Phony Frank Graham thinks its "disgraceful." I think he and the rest of the christians toadying up to Traitor Trump are even more disgraceful.
12
None of what is happening is a surprise. Conservative religious leaders supported this stance, but told themselves he’d never do it. Now they must accept responsibility and atone. Catholic teaching says Forgiveness cannot come until you accept your sin.
4
The President needs the Democrats to help solve the breaking up of families. They apparently will not cooperate.
No, no, and no again. Nobody is holding a gun to Trump's or Sessions' heads and forcing them to do this. They are doing it themselves and they are proud of it. If the President of the United States of America has the power to order his armies into battle, direct the most powerful Navy on the planet, and deploy nuclear weapons at will, he can end this practice. Now.
15
Emma
The president said basically what I posted.
Trump is a cafeteria-religious person meaning that he will pick and choose what he wants to adhere to and what he wants to ignore. So a rebuke from an esteemed group of diverse religious leaders means NOTHING to him unless it agrees with his politics. The hypocrisy is how he and Pence try to appear religious without feeling the need to make the real sacrifice to honor the practice.
5
Sessions may be correct in his choice of Paul's Letter to the Romans Ch 13; v2, but if one continues to read that same chapter, verse 9 ends with "Love thy Neighbor as thyself."
after stating the last 5 commandments. How does one do that by separating parents from children for merely stepping across a political border?? Also, don't the Apostles' words take precedence? If so, then, why not follow Mark's statement, Ch 12; V17 Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's" as Christ reprimands the Philistines for criticizing those not as educated or wealthy as they were. Man's laws are not always the same as those of God's. They never have been.
3
Agreed! Look at the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc etc.
Finally!! Christians (and especially the religious right) are waking up and exerting some moral authority over the abuses of this administration! Better late than never! This crime must stop and children must remain with their parents/guardians. Period! It is shameful that it took the forced separation of children from their mothers and fathers for Christian Trump supporters to speak out and hold this administration accountable for these disgraceful and inhumane actions.
10
Speak up all you so called religious leaders! Do not wait until it becomes politically expedient to do so.
5
Great. Next order of business is calling for the removal of Scott Pruitt, citing Psalm 104:
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
12
Woo Hoo! This is how long it took them to openly criticize Trump?!?!?
4
Trump has said that the Democrats will not cooperate to solve this situation.
Trump is about as anti-Christian as a man can get. How did you "religious leaders" swallow your beliefs and your ethics and put this man in power?
23
We had other presidents that were not necessarily religious but they were moral. You can start with A. Lincoln. Trump is neither. But I also knew that 5 or more years back.
2
So some of the more pious cult members are having second thoughts about some of the things their version of David Koresh is doing? Not about him, of course, just some of the things he's doing. This would be massively ironic if it weren't so massively pathetic.
9
rightwing christians decrying human rights abuses? way overdue.
8
Am I supposed to believe that a birther like Franklin Graham really cares about minority children? All you have to do is look at the whites only mega churches to see how hollow the Evangelicals are on this. Whatever morals they had went out the window when they all got behind a thrice married serial philanderer.
17
Make that "SOME Conservative Religious Leaders."
1
A few.
2
Evangelicals Christians are phony and they have nothing in common with message of Christ. They are good at two things-1.) hustle people out money-mega churches routinely pass the plate and keep the money 2.) spread the Gospel of greed and worldly passions. Both the complete opposite of the teachings of Christ. In fact, Jesus warned about such false prophets.
16
All we can say is thanks a lot, you interfering religions. We can do a lot better if you stay our of politics. The founders thought so, and you are proving them right, again. Your record is REALLY BAD.
18
Jesus was an illegal immigrant child. When the angel visited Joseph, he told him to take the child, sneak into Eqypt, as all children under two years of age were to be killed. Imagine for a minute, if Jesus was separated from Mary and Joseph at such an early age?
10
Hate overrides love in Trump land. Every time.
6
It's easier to hate. One only needs one quality he dislikes about another to hate. To love one must love despite one or more qualities he dislikes. Love is much harder to do but much more rewarding in the end. Trump takes the easy way out in everything. So he hates anyone that is not just like him ethnically along with those that are same but think differently than he does. No wonder he stays up all night looking for things to tweet about.
4
The Catholics , Billy Grahms son and evangelicals are reaping what they sow now. When you support the devil Trump and his supporters you are going to get burned. They are never for supporting the American family by denying health care and they don't care for immigrants so by voting for them this nightmare has happened. I hope you will stop supporting these GOP who are not for American values but only for their own. Shame on you if you keep supporting Trump.
8
Catholic leadership has been decrying Jeff Sessions treatment of refugee children or some time.
1
For decades the catholic community voted for the evil GOP instilling fear over their parishoniers over abortion. They manipulated you all and you all are reaping what you sow now. I believe God will punish the people directly causing the abortion. Abortion is wrong but should not be in an election issue. The GOP played you all and I hope you learn from this like we have.
1
Well Cardinal DiNardo - this is your chance to prove the Catholic church has learned from the mess with pedophile priests and protecting children. One of the greatest enablers of this obscenity is Paul Ryan, probably the most prominent lay Catholic in the US. Are you to be another Cardinal Laws - closing your eyes - or will you bring real pressure on a Catholic who has the power to take action?
8
If Trump were Roman Emperor, he would turn away Joseph and the pregnant Mary from the border. If Jesus were born in the desert, and Mary and Joseph again sought sanctuary in the US, Emperor Trump would take the Child Jesus away from his parents and confine him in a Walmart with thousands of other illegal immigrant children. Mary would be in tears. And somewhere, in some detention center, the Child Jesus is now gathering his followers, and the Roman Empire is in decline.
23
Thank, you!!! Charles
3
But taking away health care is a Christian thing to do?
23
it’s great that they are stepping up, but if they had given more thought to their “la la la what social justice I can’t hear you because abortion la la la” political stance back in 2016 we wouldn’t be in this situation.
On another note can’t wait to see the conservative Catholics freak out (and I’m Catholic!)
11
They're doing it to children and parents with brown skin. It wouldn't happen if they were white Norwegians. White lives matter more.
19
There are many variations on the theme of people who make some kind of a "deal with the devil" or "Faustian bargain." What really holds our fascination is the fact that the usually it is the HUMAN who lies in such transactions, not the devil. They are stories not just of temptation, but self-deception. After all, the demon typically makes itself known and offers to purchase someone's soul in return for whatever the human might want. The whole point of the story is that the devil will collect his "DUE." There is no theft; no hijacking.
And so it is with the people like Graham, Perkins, Falwell, Jr. and those who continue to look to them for spiritual/moral leadership. Trump's malicious nature is implausibly obvious. But like the stories, evangelicals (as a voting bloc) deceived themselves into thinking that they were going to come out ahead in one of Trump's infamous "deals." So they signed on the dotted electoral line (again, in the aggregate). And did they not receive their SCOTUS pick?
Perhaps they feel they did not affirmatively agree to everything Trump is doing now, but that's just more self-deception. They would do well to start listening to the warnings of their fellow believers who see where all this is going because the Mark of the Don does not wash off easily.
8
Brilliant assessment.
2
Well-written. Good points. Trump did not deceive anyone - what we saw is what we got. Now the devil is collecting his due.
3
Mr. Graham takes a page out of the president's false witness book blaming administrations for the last "20 years," for what is happening now. You can't support Trump's policies and blame it on what happened in the past, Mr. Graham. These are Trump's policies. This is the president you support.
8
Sessions actually tried to justify what they are doing by quoting the Bible.
A.G. Sessions, God is NOT on your side !
10
Philip Bacon
The President needs the Democrats to help solve the breakup of families who have immigrated here.
Philip Bacon
The Democrats need to cooperate with Republications.
Way too little and way too late, Franklin Graham.
9
When the Attorney General and the President's spokesperson are citing their scripture of choice to rationalize inhumanity, I fear for this country's freedom from theocracy. They lack the wisdom and courage to adhere to the elemental principle espoused by their idol, to love. Where is the love, Christianists?!
10
"Some of the religious leaders are the same evangelicals and Roman Catholics who helped President Trump to build his base and who have otherwise applauded his moves to limit abortion and champion the rights of religious believers."
Dear New York Times, please don't adopt the "false equivalency" strategy so popular with Putin and our president. Evangelical leaders campaigned for Trump, Roman Catholic leaders simply did not. Nor are the voting percentages even vaguely commensurate.
4
Actually, some RC leaders did. One bishop (I think from AZ) said in a homily that he expects Catholics who vote for Hillary Clinton not to receive the Eucharist unless they have been to confession whilst Father Frank Pavone from “Priests for Life” was even an adviser in the Trump Campaign. Catholic media supported by numerous bishops and priests also supported Donald Trump during the campaign.
It is true however that the USCCB did not endorse any candidate.
1
Some, if not many, of these kids ripped from their parents and damaged by the experience will eventually become American citizens. In addition to the horrific cruelty of it, America is setting a time bomb.
6
The devil whispered in the ears of the evangelicals as he dangled the Trump agenda in their eyes. But everything comes with a price and innocent children taken from their parents is on their hands and that of the “biblical” Jeff Sessions.
7
I read people outraged here but nobody wants to look at the root cause. When it comes down to 1980's Reagan version of "Make America Great Again" no one objected to Reagan initiated/CIA sponsored brutalities in Central America. These countries are still fighting the demon created by Reagan in the name of stopping Communism. We here in Pakistan are still fighting remnants of Mujahidin/Taliban created by Reagan.
As a reparation for these crimes in South America, why Americans are so riled with 10 or 20 million (less than 10% of population) of these helpless people attempting to emigrate to US? Maybe next time the Republicans should think twice before bombing or going to next (mis)adventure.
There is a lesson to be learnt here. I would not be surprised if this radicalism will escalate where American Border security will shoot at these people as Israelis are shooting at Medic in Gaza.
In my opinion World should be thankful for Putin's intervention in Syria, if 100,000 died till now, American unrestrained intervention would have killed millions. Thank God for Putin to help Hillary lose, her policy would have brought mayhem unseen in modern times.
2
10 million illegals is less than 0.3% of our population of 350 million. We are making a mountain out of a molehill in the first place.
2
No. They are 3% of the population. .028 = approximately 3%.
But I agree with your sentiment nonetheless.
2
When Trump campaigned he recited the parable about the snake. The snake bit his kindly chaperone.And explained. I am a snake. Biting people is what I do best.Why are you surprised? You knew I was a snake. When you elect a person with a nasty mean streak you get Trump performing as expected.
5
Critical moment for American Christianity. Do something now or forever forfeit any claim to moral agency.
8
Too late. Roy Moore.
1
Everyone should be advocating orderly immigration so everyone can enter legally and get established in the US. It would be easier and less expensive than setting up these make shift centers which are designed to fail and very quickly. It is less expensive than sending ICE out on raids at Seven/Eleven at 2 am to apprehend one or two illegal workers after searching more than 1000 stores. It is time to insist on a policy of kindness and take the highest moral ground not the lowest .
6
What did they expect?
These religious leaders disgrace themselves in their "shock" that Trump is doing what he said he would do.
7
The evangelicals talk the talk about the Bible, but they do NOT do the walk. The Golden rule is very clear, “Do unto others as they would do to you”! As a parent, I would go insane if my child was taken away from me!
5
When Americans look back on this shameful period in our history, Evangelicals' support of Trump will be one of the most embarrassing and inexplicable cases of brainwashing in our 250 year history. Nobody less Christ-like than Christian Americans in 2018.
18
Wow, finally some cognitive dissonance from that group.
But wait—if these religious leaders are who they claim to be, shouldn't their cognitive dissonance be among the first to appear in society, leading the way for others?
3
I don’t recognize my country anymore. I consider myself a Christian and in my opinion Franklin Graham is a hypocrite. He and the Christian Right have twisted the teaching of Jesus beyond recognition. Jesus was an immigrant himself. Shame on them. Leaders in the so called Christian Right are our modern day false prophets. They are backing the wrong man. Have they forgotten the commandment? Love your neighbor as yourself. My heart weeps for families and children and in what we are all complicit in and witnessing in our world. Vote. And pray for peace.
12
Rev. Graham, you want it both ways. You make a bargain with the devil, giving your support in exchange for advancing your agenda of the Theocratic States of America. Then when the devil behaves like - well, the devil, you raise your hands in horror.
Sorry, Reverend, you don't get a free pass. Nothing short of your total repudiation of trump would be acceptable, and even then I would have a hard time believing you.
27
Yes, but will they still vote for him?
23
because he so much better than his opponents...
Trump has always been unequivocal in his stance on migrants and these leaders who flocked to him for other reasons had to have heard him. Now that they see his administration do precisely what he had said he would do---and he is doing the bidding of those others in his administration who are essentially anti-immigrant no matter the immigrant's particular status---they suddenly do not like what's happening. Whither these outspoken, upright religious leaders when Sessions was selected to head the Justice Department? Sessions, remember, has been pretty clear about his affinity to "law." They don't like to see families broken up, they say. I refuse to forgive these people. It's "disgraceful," they say. They either do not care to look up what "disgrace" really means or they are trying to salvage what little religious credibility they have. Apparently in their newfound morality, they have lost their own sense of responsibility in this horrible, disgusting condition of brutality, and, to add even more into this interesting development, the line between hypocrisy and stupidity has been lost. Nice work, right-leaning religious community---great way to lead, great way to show us the difference between "just" and "lawful." You've done enough. Now stop talking and may the guilt and shame carry you to that special place Dante has for the likes of you.
26
I mean, I'm happy they're finally standing up for something that's good - but where have you been, Christians?! Just now awakening from a deep slumber??
15
Golden idol addresses clinking cymbals.
12
This is incredible. The Republicans was to bargain taking a child from its parent, for money to build a wall.
Children are NOT bargaining chips.
This is callous and abusive to children.
Mr Sessions needs to end his order and apologize to Americans for being the horrid human he , Mr Trump and Mz. Sanders are.
Just when you think you have heard it all, in walks these people.
28
You have to wonder why Jeff Sessions has been willing to tolerate unrelenting abuse from Trump, abuse which would have driven anyone else to quit long ago. The reason is, he finally has the ability to implement all the cruel, small-minded prejudices he's harbored his entire life, and nobody is going to deprive him of that pleasure,
32
I might allow as to how BILLY Graham was an important religious figure for America. FRANKLIN Graham is nothing of the kind. First off, his "religious" positions have nothing to do with real religion or even his father's ideas. He is not religious at all; he is a political hack. This position he takes now is purely political; he can tell the vast majority of Americans are disgusted by trump's anti-immigrant ideas.
29
When there time comes, I wonder what these evangelicals will tell GOD when he asks one question. Why did you listen to the word of trump over mine.
19
Late, but nevertheless welcome. Now, my Christian friends, let's take a look at some of the other areas this administration has trampled on Biblical teachings.
17
Sorry Franklin Graham. After you support for the birther nonsense, you have no credibility, a shameful position only made more emphatically by your continued support for everything Trump and blaming previous administrations for his actions. Lord, these people are all in despite the obvious contradictions and challenges to their purported godliness. Apparently, God has been selecting some rather porous vessels to further his aims of late.
21
Trump is blaming democrats for the Trump admin's policy change to separate children from their parents and it's all about trying to force democrats to vote for his wall! Think about that! He's traumatizing children for politics. They did the same thing last fall by not extending the Children's health care program and using it as leverage to get a vote. I don't know what's worse the policy or the reasons for it. BeBest? Or BeWorst?
17
You know it's bad when conservative christians speak out, because they are usually happy to be establishment tools.
14
Isn’t the jerk that is over holding the Children for HHS even a practicing Catholic and a graduate of Catholic University. He tried to cite that when he tried to deny the minors abortions. He lost those Jaunita Doe cases in court and they were allowed to have sponsored abortions.
But now he has no problem separating children from their parents. The Catholics and fellow CUA graduates have more of an issue with live born children than with embryos that are not babies! I am a Catholic grad of CUA it is live children that we care about. Women want the right to choose for their own bodies!
18
I’d love to hear Graham and his cronies try to justify how far they’ve strayed from this unambiguous statement: “What you do unto the least of these my brethren, you do unto me.”
36
OK, the stained glass language sounds christian enough, let's see how you vote in November.
And while we are speading all this christian concern, how about these evangelicals and others take their christian charity down to the border with food, water, toys, medicine and minister to these kids.
Maybe they could bring cots for them so they are not kept in kennels, like Trump's new BFF, Kim, does with thousands of his people.
15
Huh. So they actually do have a shred of decency in them?
2
Although "Nero" fiddled while Rome burned, he has my full support.
The Trump immigration policy is representative of everything that is wrong with the soul of our nation. Destroying the family unit has always been a favorite of the racist power structure. Slave owners strategically separated spouses, siblings and children in an effort to destabilize unity in the slave community. It is not at all surprising that the Trump cadre of xenophobs, bigots and racist that implement his border policies would follow the playbook of the confederate States. His chief antagonist and favorite "whipping boy" , the less than honorable, Attorney General Sessions, a true son of the confederate south, is the lead proponent of ripping infants and children out of the arms of their parent(s). Sessions actually and tragically believes that this policy serves as a deterrent for parents in coming to our borders. As if the violence, fear and degradation that they are escaping would somehow pale in comparison to our foster care system. I am quite confident that the street gangs of Honduras are far more dangerous than an overburdened foster care system. The system is far from perfect, but exposure to murder, rape, sex trafficking and drugs in a child's daily life is not the rule.
10
If you make illegal immigration too easy, it encourages more to come--more human trafficking, more children put in dangerous conditions and more costs to the American taxpayer dealing with the immigration line cutters.
I don't think we need to split families up but we can't just keep releasing these people into the U.S. trusting they'll show up for their immigration hearing, because they don't.
Instead we should let them apply at the border and return later for admittance if granted.
4
Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. These so-called religious leaders have supported Trump fully even as he displayed a total lack of morals and ethics from day one. They are complicit and to blame. Plus, they are not asking for forgiveness, but deflecting blame on others. Last I checked Jesus really didn’t like that kind of behavior. They will all be judged accordingly.
6
It is past time for religious leaders to publicly assert their moral authority by supporting humane policies that enhance the quality of life for the living, rather than reserving their most vocal condemnations for the usual targets of abortion and contraception.
13
Evangelical views on abortion and contraception are about keeping women in their place. Nothing more than that. When you look at it through that lens their behaviors make a lot more sense.
In fact, as far as I’m concerned evangelical Christianity is primarily white male supremacism dressed up in Jesus talk. That’s not true of all evangelicals but that is certainly what the public face of it has become.
5
The journalist mentioned the resolution by the Southern Baptist Convention but fails to mention Mike Pence hijacked the convention by holding a political rally speech and attendees chanting; "Four More Years..." So much for being resolute in their convictions about helpless children.
25
At some point anyone with any moral fiber will reach a breaking point with Trump. It is tragic that it is taking so long and that conservative Christians have been so willing to overlook Trump’s lack of ethics and his tremendous personal flaws because of an “ends justifies the means” argument. Hopefully if enough leaders speak out to their congregations it will help prod the GOP in the House to push back on at least the cruelest of Trumo’s policies. But the very real support many of these churches gave to Syrian refugees did not seem to sway their congregations’ voting habits so possibly moral outrage will never produce any actual results.
6
Why hasn’t UNICEF or another global agency gotten involved? I cannot believe that separating children from their parents doesn’t violate some international agreement on the rights of children?
13
The US signed but never ratified the UN rights of the child in 1995 due to the intransigence of the Republicans in the Senate (what a surprise). Not that it excuses or justifies this horrific treatment of children and their families at the border. This is a matter of human decency and morals, which Republicans seem to lack.
3
Mealy-mouthed Mr. Graham, carving self-serving exemptions from his own self-righteousness, can’t even come right out and blame Mr. Trump for a policy that is clearly his.
15
I applaud the evangelicals’ stance on immigration - stem illegal immigration, but act humanely to people and families. However, aren’t there many other important issues besides limiting abortion and championing the rights of religious believers to which you could apply moral judgement and make a positive difference in this country? Don’t ignore the man behind the curtain - he is the devil with whom you made a pact.
8
I am in complete agreement with these religious leaders. It's immoral and should be ended. But, the only way to end it is to tell people to vote for someone who does not promote breaking up families. In other words, don't vote for Trump. It's as simple as that.
3
Maybe Rev.Graham should have been a little more careful before he so shamelessly promoted Trump who clearly lacked any moral or ethical values.Trump’s goals and policies were very clear.Graham ignored the obvious moral depravity of Trump.So why is he surprised at the latest Trump atrocity. Be careful what you wish for.Graham should be seeking divine forgiveness.
10
So almost ALL organized religious figures, the Pope, and now even "conservative religious leaders" are appalled by Trump policies?
How can the extremist self-styled "evangelicals" who support Trump possibly NOT take account this and not abandon this false, faux-gilt idol?
8
Following the law is not disgraceful.
Following a disgraceful law is disgraceful. All repressive regimes that violate human rights have laws that they scrupulously follow.
21
actually the claim of refugee status at a border crossing is fully following both US and international law.
3
Laws can be disgraceful in their intent and they can be changed. In this case the law should be changed.
3
Finally, some Christianity from Christians. Wonders never cease!
(I'm well versed in the gospels and spent a good deal of time trying to follow Jesus. I'm not enthusiastic about people who label exclusion, victim blaming, violence, toxic waste greed, and selective prideful judgmentalism about women and the poor as Christian.)
50
These hypocrites are despicable. They were instrumental in electing Trump and they knew full well what kind of bigot and xenophobe he was and still is. Now they want us to believe they care about immigrant families. Next they’ll be telling us that Muslims and Jews won’t suffer eternal damnation after all.
33
Is this a dim light going on, that this sanctioned instrument of their god and his deplorable minions, is now slowly being seen as contrary to the teachings of their Messiah.?
Their God will deal with them, and it wont be pretty. One issue Voting is all these not-Christian Christians care about...their Messiahs message of social justice is not one of their concerns
Its been reported that the officers separating the children are telling the parents their children are being taken for a bath...but never come back.
Hmmm...where have we heard of a similar ruse? Could it be...Nazi Germany!?
Voting Republican is now a vote for similar policies. The Trump admin is now actively involved in an ethnic cleansing.
25
Rev Billy blames all the other guys - but not the one IN CHARGE.
How laughable, self-serving and so 'religious.'
49
Read Billy's boy, Frankie...there, fixed.
3
Evangelical Christian = White Nationalist. Who do Franklin Graham and his followers think they're kidding?
43
Graham finds it repugnant that Trump's policies force children to be torn away from their parents, but refuses to blame Trump. And there you have the idiocy of the Christian Right in a nutshell.
68
Trump is your God Mr. Graham. Bow.
53
Rights for the unborn? ABSOLUTELY! Rights for the "born"? Umm...somebody should write a letter.
25
Graham, Fallwell, Huckaby, Brigham Young, The Pope, Trump. What is the difference, between one misogynistic money grubbing palace living ignorant self aggrandizing charlatan from another.
17
“Some of the religious leaders are the same evangelicals and Roman Catholics who helped President Trump to build his base”. As it relates to Catholic leaders this statement is not supported in the rest of the article and is a typical NYT smear of Catholics. Poor editing did not catch this because the Time staff equates Catholics and evangelicals. The USCCB has always had a strong pro-immigrant rights stance and I do not recall them or other Catholic leaders expressing support for Trump. Please correct your article by supporting this statement or removing it.
12
Sadly, many US Catholic leaders came out very strongly for DJT, based on one thing: a vote for Hillary Clinton was a vote for “murdering babies”. In other words, abortion is so heinous that all other sins pale before it, and Catholics themselves sin if they vote to sustain it. I personally read essays by Catholic bishops supporting this view. More than one advocated excommunication for Catholics who voted to sustain abortions (ie. voted Democratic). These articles disturbed me but I might have gotten over them (I know how strongly some people feel about abortion) if these same Catholics had stood up to the other vicious actions of the Trump administration: the immediate attempt to keep Muslims out of the country; the continued attempts to both remove health insurance from people and kick them off food support programs; the immediate attempt to open sacred Native American sites to mineral exploitation. No such luck. The Catholic Church in the US is hamstrung and neutered by it’s dogged fights against contraception and abortion. I would be gratified, but admittedly surprised to see this issue catch any traction with the Trump supporting Catholics I know. After all, their response after the recent school shooting was simply to point out how many more “children” are killed by abortion.
7
You are correct. Catholic leaders have long supported workers' rights (including the living wage) and opposed the death penalty. How is that helping Trump "build his coalition"?
1
In fact the Pope has rather frequently, in words and deeds, indirectly rebuked Trump and his policies. It is true he hasn’t called Trump out directly but I don’t think he ought to meddle directly in politics.
Graham and these other so called religious leaders sold their souls in supporting Trump, who lacks a soul. Now they are trying to reclaim it. I think there is even a deeper place in hell for those who knew Him, but denied Him for power and riches.
44
Evangelicals bastardized themselves when they voted for Trump. However, there is forgiveness. Confess your sin and never vote for Trump or any of his followers and you will find redemption.
55
I took a class last month called Writing About Mental Illness. It was taught by a man who is both a writer and a licensed psychologist. Mental illness is caused by many things but one of the major causes is childhood trauma. It would be great, but difficult, if we could end all childhood trauma but one thing we do have control over is the removal of children from their parents at the border.
For the future mental stability of these children, we must end the forced tearing apart of families.
44
Too late. These evangelicals sold their souls to put Trump in office. The only thing that mattered to them was abortion and gay marriage, i.e., the suppression of women's rights and gay rights.
Now they pretend to care about families and children? Why not when healthcare or SNAP programs or CHIP or anything else?
Yes, it's terrible to see families ripped apart. But people from hate groups have now been appointed to important positions in the Trump administration.
30
As someone who considers himself a Christian, I don't think the evangelical "Faith" will last much more than the next couple of generations. People searching for a spiritual connection and a meaning to their existence will see the vast disconnect between the public statements and actions of evangelical leaders and the message of the Bible and move on. Trump's evangelical backers aren't Christians; they just hate gays, immigrants and are anti-abortion and use the Bible to justify their prejudice.
12
We're all God's children? Oh, I've been waiting for the great and powerful evangelical pastors, reverends, and self-important clergy to come to that conclusion. It took them awhile.
Hey, counting all those donations does take time.
I'd say a little late, but better than never. Jesus may be watching, I mean if you truly believe, with out a microphone in you hand.
9
I'm sure the president is really scared of these sharp rebukes and will immediately change his ways. Or not. These so-called people of faith made a Faustian deal and for that all of us suffer. Some more than others.
4
A problem with this article is that it suggests that the U.S. Catholic Church had sided with Trump on immigration issues prior recent moves. Wrong. The opposition goes back to the beginning, and frankly, to the Obama administration. A review of the Times own archives, or a google search, would show the activism-- that's the word I'll use-- of the bishops on immigrants' rights dating back to the last administration, and ramping up in this administration.
And on the broader spectrum of social issues, it would be wrong to say that the U.S. Catholic church has been aligned with Trump. Perhaps it's a mixed bag (owing to the fact that the belief system does not align with either party), but support of Trump himself is hard to find. More importantly, the global church is not warm to Trump, nor are most individual Catholics in the U.S.
The more remarkable thing, as this article correctly says, is that Evangelicals are splitting w/ Trump. But the article ought to be more explicit about the Catholic stance, which has not lurched at all-- but has been consistent.
18
It is good to hear that these Christian leaders have something positive to say with regards to the treatment of these families that have been separated and to actually send letters to Trump talking about morality. I was beginning to think being moral was no longer a Christian trait.
The fact that the Newark Cardinal is putting together a delegation of bishops to inspect the facility is very heartening. Here is hoping that they are allowed to enter it. And are allowed to speak to the children.
When I heard that there was a press contingent that had a tour of the facility but not allowed to speak to the children it left questions in my mind that perhaps either the Organization who is running the facility had something to hide or the Justice Department set up a roadblock, as had happened with the the Congressman who arrived unannounced. It does sound a bit suspicious when not even a Congressman cannot enter what is obviously a Federal Detention Center and that questions cannot be asked by the press.
As far as Franklin Graham goes, he is the panderer he always was.
And a Christian hypocrite to boot.
15
People of faith should think long and hard about their values, who they have elected, and the consequences of those decisions. Looking back, it is clear that Jesus was in every possible way an Anti-Trump.
19
A suggestion for all the evangelicals who support life from the moment of conception- don't contribute one dime to any of these evangelical churches. Instead let the Rev Graham and his cohorts to publicly lobby Trump and his administration to stop this policy and reunite these children with their families. Put your wallet and contributions in your pockets and drop a note in the collection plate - "another person who supports the children". Show the world that you stand for something that you really do believe in the dignity of life and then contribute to help these children. The evangelical leadership will get the message right away - they like Trump speak the language of money.
15
I'm grateful to the religious leaders calling out Trump and his so-called "Justice Department" for his despicable and alarming immigration policies.
There is no way to undo the damage being done to the children who are being ripped from their parents and placed in detention centers. Some may never be reunited with their parents and will be scarred by the actions of the United States government. Some will bear the weight of being traumatized for the rest of their lives.
The Trump administration doesn't care about the welfare of children.
We can try to redress the damage being done by working against Trump's heinous polices and also by being kind, welcoming and generous to our all our neighbors who come here from other countries. Immigrants come here because of the promise of freedom and the opportunity to work for a better future. That hope should never translate into policies that traumatize and brutalize the children they bring with them.
We're better than this. It's Trump who's not.
12
Somehow it's possible for Graham to denounce Trump now but "find forgiveness in his heart" and vote for Trump again the next time. Evangelicals are a crafty bunch.
6
I've written my Episcopal Bishop. I think the mainline churches should be involved here. There should be a united front among the churches.
12
It's about time that religious leaders who have blindly supported the immoral policies of our President because he claims to be a Christian conservative step up and censure him. I'm not thinking it will do much to dissuade the President, but it could force an electoral reckoning.
7
And how much did these prison operators donate to the Trump campaign or those independent donors? They're raking in the big bucks now.
4
So the American Taliban are finally remembering some of their "family values." Maybe they can persuade Trump to get rid of his anti-immigration czar, Stephen Miller, and the chief of staff who forgot that his ancestors came her to escape the Irish Potato Famine. Of course the Kellies would be denied entry today because Sessions has ruled that hunger and economic hard times are not good enough reasons for seeking asylum.
9
This is religious hypocrisy at its best.
At the end of the day, these cardinals, bishops, etc. are pragmatic politicians. They'll scream and complain, but still vote for Trump and his cohorts because they need them to appoint the "right" kind of judges.
We are living in dangerous times, where the elected and religious leaders are basically talking from both sides of their mouth, and their supporters don't care. For others, their words cannot be trusted, so we need to watch their actions.
If the elected leaders continue this kind of hateful policies, and the religious groups keep electing them, America can no longer claim the moral high ground for "human" rights.
No wonder Trump felt like he should salute a North Korean general. He recognized one of his own.
20
Would Jesus Vote ??? Why yes, he would. Think about that, then think some more. Seriously.
7
Wow, what a bunch of sanctimonious hypocrites some of these religious leaders are. They rail against the assault on the unity of family perpetrated by the immigration policies of this current administration but have no problem voting for and continuing to support a thrice-married candidate for president who has shown little regard for the unity of family. Buyer's remorse is a ...
18
Trump's supporters are beginning to resemble a brainwashed cult. The policies his administration imposes on so many fronts are immoral, and in y stark contrast of the values religions of all shades advocate. It's been a puzzling phenomenon that he has such strong support from Christian and Catholics in this country.
I think we're beginning to see some divisions in that fold - ones who blindly follow the leader and follow this cult of personality, and those who actually subscribe to the word of God. I hope God wins.
8
What say the Mormons? They've released statements emphasizing the need to strengthen families periodically (for example: https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/daca-statement-january-2018). Are Mormon leaders speaking on this issue and the article simply did not mention their statements, or are the leaders silent?
8
Ironic isn't it?
Trump, not a particularly religious man, let alone devout or evangelical, said whatever conservative Christians want to hear, so they'd vote for him. They did vote for him, despite his many behaviors that they distain.
He'd also said things that many racist and hateful people, Christian in name only, loved to hear and voted for.
Once in, he plays to the racists and haters, including anti- anyone with dark skin or anyone from a poor country. In keeping with his campaign rhetoric to them, he says and does many things which are inherently anti-Christian. But that very vocal crowd cheers for him, so he's happy.
When the true conservative Christians, the keepers of the faith, ask Trump to be more kind to the DACAs or the children at our border, he doesn't care about the teachings of Christ, nor the view of those Christians, nor even the poem on the statue of liberty ("your tired, your poor,.."). He's fixed on appealing to the haters, even when it hurts the kids.
A Democratic President would never have done this, nor a compassionate Republican. Conservative Christians backed the wrong horse.
36
A Democratic president would have interned them just for being Japanese, though.
This hypocrisy is a shining example why the younger generation is rejecting organized religion. More power to them.
14
I cannot think of a worst abuse of children than this cruel act. If I were a border agent, I would be looking for a different job. No way would I be a party to this evil. Perhaps Mr. Sessions should go to the border and deal with a terrified child as she is taken from her mother.
30
I wouldn’t want Sessions to deal with a mother who had her children taken from her. He would enjoy it too much.
1
In the words of an Evangelical friend of mine (don't laugh, I have 'em) on Facebook early last year, "Will Gorsuch be our 30 pieces of silver?" I'm pretty sure he knows the answer.
3
It's about time.
As an atheist who adores Pope Francis for his courageous moral clarity, and humility (even in the face of his own grievous errors), I have been wondering which American protestant denominations I might be able to hold hands with as our president rips apart the best in us. Up till now, there were scant few.
But even so, the question must be asked, of these now morally righteous groups and ministers, what new line was so suddenly crossed to make you speak out? Families are precious, women's lives are precious, but so are all lives....men's lives, gay people's lives, poor people's lives, persecuted people's lives. As this administration began tearing away at our compassion, why were you silent? Does your creed dare to value one breed above another, especially in a nation that, in its deepest aspirations, hopes for its citizens to see each other as equal partners in government?
What is the value of a brown man's fear for his life? When will you open your door to a Syrian with no hope?
It is about time for these groups to come around to morality, and maybe this atheist can give them a little preachin' about right and wrong to help them save their souls....that have nearly been lost.
10
"He quickly made it clear that this had not dimmed his enthusiasm for Mr. Trump, adding, “I blame the politicians for the last 20, 30 years that have allowed this to escalate to where it is today.”
You got that right. It's only appropriate in the present situation to start by blaming our most previous so-called president whose soft immigration policies caused this massive influx from Central America in the first place. As he goes around the world receiving big checks for speeches, taxpayers at all levels have paid billions as a result of his idiocy. Rewarding illegal immigration only results in more of it. Even just talking about it like congress has over the past several months in regards to legalizing so-called "dreamers" caused a huge spike. Until all loopholes are closed in the laws and adequate funding for enforcement granted, this will continue.
In regards to families being separated, they bring that on themselves by showing up on our doorstep. Want to keep your family together, don't come. Apply for asylum in Mexico or another safe country far closer to your home. The fact that they won't is very telling of their intentions.
In regards to domestic violence and whatever other excuse outside of government oppression that is being used by those seeking asylum, not our problem. The United States can't and won't be the dumping ground for everyone with these types of issues. Purchase a firearm. Your leftist government objects? Throw them out of office.
2
The last administration forcibly removed more than 2 million undocumented immigrants. Not exactly a soft immigration policy. Not sure how that policy is costing us billions of dollars. Because something wasn't done in the last 20 or 30 years by any administration to make a better immigration policy (leaving out the fact that congress has totally abdicated any responsibility for a coherent must less comprehensive immigration overhaul during said 20 or 30 years), this administration chooses respond with the harshest most unchristian response it could dream up.
2
Evangelical hypocrites like little Graham and Falwell wear $1000s suits, live in million$ mansions, fly around in private jets and speak out from both sides of their mouths, preaching about Christian "traditional family values" while focusing on the gospels of prosperity and stoking inter ethnic and religious tensions, naturally coddling bigots like Moore and Trump moral bankruptcy (brazen history of sexual predatory and philandering, lies, cheats) instead of actually applying Jesus beautiful teachings of compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, humility and most of all love.
12
Hollow words from these religious leaders. Just like Republican(Trumpican?) politicians, they talk a decent to good game but do nothing but support Trump.
I guess the hateful and racist rhetoric against immigrants of Dump during the campaign was not a big enough clue to see this was going to happen.
Keep supporting the hatred, xenophobia and divisiveness religious leaders. Wolves in sheep's clothing all of you.
13
Last time I saw kids forcibly snatched from the arms of their parent when I watched Jews in concentration camp.
In another one a Nazi soldier forcefully pulling the arm of a woman and this woman looking back at her small child, waving towards the child to go back.
Didn't have any sound but the horror is in my mind.
Session and Trump nothing less than these barbarians.
40
One commenter after another is pointing out the hypocrisy of Franklin Graham professing to be appalled at the current American policy of ripping families apart at the border, but then quickly saying it doesn't dim his enthusiasm for Trump one bit. He blames past politicians who didn't solve the immigration problem once and for all years ago.
This is yet another example of the "cult" of Trump. Just yesterday these two words, cult and cultish, started appearing in statements by Sen. Corker and others who are furious that Congress is too cowardly to fulfill their responsibility to check the executive branch. Evangelicals are prime examples. In recent memory they strongly advocated for character, honesty, marital fidelity, decency in human and business relationships, strength against greed and lust, and lawfulness. However, for Trump they invented a new sacrament: the holy mulligan.
Trump has sinned in just about every manner imaginable, from sexual assault to financial corruption, to lying, cheating, scamming, racism, on and on. But folks like Franklin Graham decided to profane Christianity's forgiveness precept, which is that God's forgiveness is bountiful for those who admit their sins, confess, seek forgiveness and redemption, and work hard to change their behavior and make amends. None of the above apply to Trump, as he clearly stated when asked that he had NEVER once felt the need to ask God's forgiveness.
Trump is the president. This inhumane policy is 100% his.
35
I left the christian church as a young man 30 years ago because I could no longer tolerate the hypocrisy and sanctimoniousness of the parishioners at the church where I worshiped. I am convinced that Christianity has become a religion of hate in the United States. I do not believe Franklin Graham or any other evangelical when they claim to be moved by the suffering of poor, minority, or otherwise vulnerable populations. Their empathy is empty; it's just for show.
21
Devious Franklin Graham, said: “I think it’s disgraceful, it’s terrible to see families ripped apart and I don’t support that one bit.”
But he blames "the politicians for the last 20, 30 years that have allowed this to escalate to where it is today.”
Graham seems to have the same attitude as Mr. Trump: Blame everyone but Trump.
116
Yes it is disgraceful for this to happen. Yes politicians have play politics with immigration for more like 60 - 70 years. But that is the situation that we have now. so those who support allowing everybody in need to put their money where their mouth is and start shelling out money to correct the conditions that these (undocumented) immigrants have put themselves in or shut up.
They criticize a policy that they could see coming a mile away. When they actually impose any consequences on the administration, I will stop being disgusted with them. Not before.
27
It's about time! Hallelujah!
1
You don’t get to cherry pick the policies of your President that you support. This is a horror fully owned by and made by Trump’s racist, science-denying, uncompassionate base. SO own it. Christian said they are not.
27
The family separation debacle is not based in law. It was not, as falsely claimed, a practice of the Obama administration. It is solely the vicious and inhumane policy of AG Jeff Sessions, supported by Emperor Donald Trump.
The hypocrisy of the evangelical community is now an established feature of our current political landscape. To blame "years of political practice" for this family separation disaster and still support Trump is the most blatant expression yet of the fundamental dishonesty of Pharisees such as xenophobic Franklin Graham and his ilk. Graham consistently dishonors the memory of his father, and of his purported "faith" through these actions--giving the MAGA-heads cover for their own bigotry all the way.
28
Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. Etc. until they”preach” and motivate against the status quo they are empty suits. I am done with the cliches.
12
Thank you for knowing what is the right thing to do and having courage to act upon it. We are Americans! Let’s show the world that we have bigger hearts.
3
This article states that Roman Catholic "religious leaders" helped trump "build his base," and then does not name a single one. No Roman Catholic bishop endorsed Trump or in any other way helped him build his base. This is slander and the commenters here are piling on as if it were true.
7
I don't know if they "endorsed" his campaign per se. But try watching EWTN for a few minutes and you'll see how pro-Trump a lot of Catholics are. EWTN is like watching Fox News lite these days.
It's a sad time in our history.
4
While it's true that none of the conservative bishops have publicly embrace Trump, they also don't publicly condemn promotion of misogyny, intolerance and violence by Trump and his ilks (Moore, evangelical preachers) through their collective silence, just as the Church did during WWII when the Nazis were exterminating Jews and other helpless minorities. A few of them even challenge the Holy Father verbally when he walks the talks of Jesus by helping migrants. It's a sad irony considering the fact that these same evangelical bigots actively denigrate Jews and Catholics (many still do silently!) before the 1980s when both groups were still considered minorities not part of a larger tribe that Reagan wisely cooped. While the majority of American Jews are outraged by the horrid rise of the Trump empowered alt-right and the accompanying increased anti-Semitic rhetorics, attacks and vandalism of Jewish graves, significant numbers of fellow Catholics once again subtly turn a blind eyes toward helping the weak and needy.
2
This immigration debacle is not of President Trump's making but he can certainly help rectify the situation. The pictures of the children tugs at your heartstrings and anyone with any conscience knows that this separation of families is not just. The little ones look so scared and frightened and housing them in detention centers is so inhumane. This will no doubt have a lasting effect and some may even be scared for life.
Politicians must take the lead and alleviate this situation. The ball is in their court. Both political parties are responsible for this dilemma and both must correct it.
The Churches are correct in speaking out against this abuse and they are in a position to help. This is as important as any pro life cause and they could open up shelters to temporarily house these immigrants while keeping the families together. There are many good people who would be willing to assist but someone has to take the bull by the horns and start up a program. There could be money directed by the government to fund these programs and then people would be willing to get involved. Wealthy religious people would probably be willing to chip in too. Americans are known for their generosity and kindness. This predicament could have happened to anyone. There but for the grace of God go I.
2
This debacle is indeed of DJT’s making. He made the decision for “Zero Tolerance”; and members of his administration have spoken approvingly of the “ deterrent effect taking immigrants children away from them has on other immigrants”. Cruelty is a feature, you see, of this program. DJT owns this, lock, stock, and barrel. Other than that, I agree with the rest of your post.
1
Bravo! Strong voices on the matter speak out for compassion, human decency, and compromise. Not enough of that heard these days, and from an unimpeachable group of institutions, too. Plus, for taking action in visiting the centers (giving them credit in advance for the follow-through).
I'm truly moved by these people of faith for not being blind, and speaking out about what they see. Bravo, bravo!
2
The right has been very clever about using religion to pick off voters over individual wedge issues. They've convinced Catholics to vote for terrible candidates based on their claims that they oppose abortion. It is irresponsible and ignorant to vote based on one issue. Catholics need to wake up and educate themselves about candidates beyond the abortion issue. Abortion was decided by the Supreme Court so elected officials have very little power to change the law.
15
Well Catholics have in large supported democrats. Just look the strongest Catholic areas and who they vote for the most.
1
Finally, the Vatican II RC church is shedding the Hannity/O'Reilly era of holding hands with the prosperity movers and shakers to remember we are the church of St. Francis (thanks for the reminding us Pope Paco), St. Benedict (never turn away a stranger and invite them), and St. Mother Theresa (avail ourselves to the care of those most in need).
Stand up, U.S. Bishops, say it loud and be proud to defend against the indefensible, remember the words of Jesus Christ, and stop passing yourselves off as lukewarm compatriots of the Capitalist Evangelicals.
18
The sentiment is good, but at its core the question is this: Who is responsible for the separation of families -- the United States when it exercises its fundamental responsibility to protect its borders or the parents who break the law and expect the presence of their children to protect them from the consequences?
If parents in the United States commit a crime, does the fact that they have children from whom they will be separated provide them a shield from the punishment and other consequences of their crimes? How is this any different?
The real responsibility lies with the parents who break the law. They are the ones who are causing the family separations.
3
Trump. Trump is responsible. And everyone who supports him.
10
And for the parents who are fleeing horrific violence in Central America and justifiably fear for their very lives, the real responsibility lies with President 'x' and his absolutely evil and compassionless policies. These people are seeking asylum as a matter of SURVIVAL. They are neither looking for handouts nor ways to hurt the U.S.
Please consider what YOU would do to protect your family if violent gangs viewed you as a target and/or attacked you or your family members. Fighting back would be futile. Running would be your best option.
Imagine being forced into that unwinnable situation, only to then be separated from your children. Or more to the point, have THEM be separated from you.
Do you truly think that you would maintain your current believe if YOU were in that situation? And how would that be any different for these people?
9
If a person was to immigrate illegally (for whatever reason - there are more reasons than simply to get welfare and sell drugs, like, say, getting a job and avoiding starvation, or living someplace where you won't get shot at by drug farmers) why would they be expected NOT to bring their children?
"Detroit has collapsed and gangstas are taking over the neighborhoods. I'm going to move to LA and get a job, and send my paycheck home to my family".
That just doesn't make much sense - of course they're going to bring their families.
2
The fake religious family values leaders helped elect our President. Elections have consequences.
36
Sorry, but I no longer believe that anyone that voted for Trump is actually a Christian. Jesus and Donald Trump have almost nothing in common. It’s time for these people to stop worshipping the Golden Calf because they led themselves to believe that they were lost out in the desert. They sold their souls and discarded their Christian beliefs so they could “gain” temporal political power. These people turned their backs to God in favor of Donald Trump. Pathetic.
22
Franklin Graham couldn't say and do the right thing without walking it back by extending the fig leaf of 'it's the fault of the politicians of the last 20 or 30 years,' to his pal the president.
20
Put your money where your mouths are, boys. Preach from your pulpits to vote for changes, to embrace our duty to "provide for the general welfare" instead of coddling multinational billionaires or buying your fourth jet airplanes.
26
No rational person can oppose the Trump policy of tearing apart families and abusing their children. and still support Trump. Trump could stop this disgrace immediately by ordering the children released to their parents' custody and delaying these mass deportations until an organized humane protocol has been established for dealing with undocumented immigrants. But, then, again, nothing about Trump, or apparently his religious base, is humane. They should all be ashamed and embarrassed that this can happen in America, although Trump is not likely to be ashamed or embarrassed by much of anything.
36
"Conservative religious leaders who have long preached about the sanctity of the family are now issuing sharp rebukes of the Trump administration for immigration policies that tear families apart or leave them in danger."
Talk about a day late and a dollar short. These people should have figured out who Emperor Donald the First was BEFORE they endorsed him.
Shame on them. They enabled the behavior that they now find offensive. Are they now going to tell their flocks to vote for Democrats??
16
Franklin Graham swooning and clutching his pearls over the situation at the border, but still supports Don the con. Wow! Blame the problem on anyone and everyone except the people who have implemented this inhumane practice.
70
Where are all those progressive and democrats that are condemning this separation? Let them open up their check books and write some large sum checks and this situation (the condition of these immigrant children) can be rectified.
Just remember during Obama's term in 2009 and 2010 they could have changed the immigration law anyway that they wanted but did not change anything!
Let them that complain about the way immigration is happening do more than just yap their mouth. Let them put their actions behind changing the immigration policy. Who knows the borders could be thrown wide open to allow anyone who can step into the US has legal status to stay if that is what those who wants to change the immigration law.
Since sitting members of Congress have been refused entries to the warehouses where children are housed, I doubt that a delegation of bishops will be allowed to inspect the border detention centers. How cruel and inhuman this country becomes day by day - across the board - for those less fortunate and those at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale.
Sad.
24
Better late, than never. They, after all, had a lot to do with getting the leaders elected who are doing all the harm to these poor families. Bottom line is we need to stop the carnage on these families immediately. It is too late for some, who will now have children psychologically scarred for life. How Sessions, Trump and ICE sleep at night is beyond me.
34
I am in the process of becoming a US resident, Legally. I married an American.
It's a long arduous and expensive process.
I chose to do it the right way. Not to overstay, not by sneaking in.
I love America, therefore I choose the legal path.
And by the way, I will not siphon ressources, money and benefits from Americans. I will not become a parasite.
English is not my first language. I perfected it over time.
I am appalled that, in many articles published by the Times on the subject, so many commenters applaud illegality and favor illegals over citizens.
My opinion: they don't love their country nor their countrymen.
3
Religious zealotry is a gateway to Trumpism. Both require willful suspension of logic and reason, and both are unworthy of respect.
27
It's about time these "devout" Christians started speaking up! How can they have enabled Trump for this long? It's not like they didn't know what to expect. He is beyond horrible, is doing irreparable damage to our country, cannot be trusted to tell the truth about anything -- and yet they have remained silent. Is this all about abortion and Gorsuch? Well, maybe the sanctity of the family they claim to be interested in will bring them around. And maybe they'll do something. The lives of people are at stake!
8
Trump has created hypocrisy the way distilleries make whiskey, but nowhere is the product purer or more dangerous than it is among the Evangelical Right. They're poisoning themselves, their flocks, their families, and whatever place they hope to earn have in Heaven by embracing this fraud who builds temples for money changing. They tout his successes on their behalf. May he successfully pull down their whole scam.
23
What a cowardly comment by Franklin Graham. He blames politicians of the past 20 to 30 years. That is complete bunk. His idol, Don Trump, could stop this deplorable practice tomorrow if he wanted to, but he has no intention of doing so as it is being carried out under his direction. Evangelicals stand for immorality as long as they stand behind the nasty, pathological liar occupying the White House.
53
This disgraceful treatment of populations fleeing situations caused in the main by the policies and direct action of the USA, highlights the hypocracy of religious groups...except for the progressive groups. When trump left the G6 meeting he flung a slur at the socialists. Every country struggles with the same problems: refugees, homelessness,and poverty but some countries..and probably some areas of the USA... at least struggle to come up with solutions. I am proud to be a citizen of one of those countries.
5
I'm actually surprised that Evangelical and Conservative "Christians" find it troubling that their anointed Earthly savior is ripping children away from parents. I honestly thought they'd be fine with it; after all, they don't seem to care about living, breathing children, just zygotes and fetuses.
You hypocrites are way too late. Now that the whole world sees what frauds you are, you suddenly "care" about children. Maybe someday, you'll also want to provide health care and a decent education too. Nah-- experience tells me you'll go back to screaming at pregnant women who want to control their own bodies as soon as this is out of the headlines.
87
Some CONSERVATIVE American Catholics and clerics support Trump, based on abortion, birth control, 'religious freedom', but I'd say the majority do not support the vast bulk of his policies or behavior. This pope certainly is not an ally of Trump, as he has made clear, and there is a strong element in the Catholic Church of defending the poor and powerless (Maryknoll nuns, priests, lay people standing up for the oppressed, often with their own lives), certainly not a Trumpian pasttime.
12
Talk is the cheapest, easiest, and least consequential thing there is. Wake me up when any of these sanctimonious and self-righteous religious avatars publicly endorse candidates who oppose Trump's policies. And do not tell me that religious leaders are not allowed to publicly endorse political candidates - they do it every Sunday.
20
Call me when conservative religious leaders denounce #Trump then I’ll be interested
22
While the details of his policies may not have been known, the general approach - his vitriolic campaign statements against immigrants, campaing promises, general uncaring aproach, nastiness in general, general ignorance - were well known, and from that perspective, all of this was predictable. This is what happens when we divorce ourselves from reason and logic and just run on emotion and belief. However, I don't expect there to be any logical reconsideration of their votes, of cause and effect - to them, everything just happens, is disconnected.
15
Here’s a thought, if you don’t want to get separated from your family when you cross the border illegally, don’t cross the border illegally.
2
So what you are saying is that all of those refugees who illegally attempted to flee for their lives from East Germany during the Cold War should not have crossed the border into West Germany.
That it was okay for the State Department in 1939 to reject the 900 Jewish refugees fleeing from Nazi Europe.
Here's a thought: perhaps that you and your family be put into the same peril that many of these peoples are in; perhaps that you and your family also be refused sanctuary, and thus life -- all because it would be illegal.
Here's one more thought: only a uncivilized savage, a murderous brute, a criminal acting with the power and authority of a government would separate children from their parents in this type of situation.
Separating children from their parents under these circumstances is nothing short of criminal.
11
Seeking asylum is not a crime.
5
All of them are not "crossing the border illegally." Many are legally applying for asylum, then being separated from their children and locked up because asylum seekers are now being treated the same as illegal border crossers.
5
I do not understand why anyone is surprised that some Christians have supported an amoral, kleptocratic, misogynist would-be dictator who even advocates torture. The Christian world has a long history, and not just a charitable one: think inquisitions, enslavement of Africans and Native Americans, pogroms, and concentration camps.
And it's like that in any religious group: think Israel vs. the Palestinians, Sunni vs. Shia, Shia vs. the Baha'i, Myanmar Buddhists vs. the Rohingya. There are always a signifcant number of people who use the cloak of religion to cover their greed and cruelty.
24
We are still the nation that, in 1939, refused to take in 900 Jewish refugees aboard the St. Louis, ostensibly for "national security" reasons. We are still the nation that turned down the 1942 visa application of Otto Frank on behalf of his daughters -- Anne Frank and her sister Margo who both died in a concentation camp. We are still that nation.
124
The proof is in the vote. They helped elect the President and his enablers. Lets see how they vote in the mid-terms and the next general election. I suspect they will continue to support the President and give him a "mulligan" on this too.
35
Unfortunately, those so-called followers of Christ will again vote with their pocketbooks and not with their so-called morals.
4
It is about bloody time those who claim to be the followers of Jesus Christ figured out how immoral this president is about EVERYTHING a real Christian should believe. In their blind adherence to reversing Roe v Wade, these Christians have refused to see the truth about Trump. He is corrupt, immoral and using them to make himself dictator in the United States.
169
If you could identify the true Christians from those who claim Christianity it would be a very small group.
2
"....blind adherence". You got that right!
2
It's perversely fascinating that all the "right to life" and anti-abortion hordes are still supporting 45's newly minted friendship with a brutal dictator who has murdered his own people and forced abortions upon women. Hypocrisy much?
1
The conduct of the Administration towards these families smacks of Nazism. The comments by the President dismissing and justifying Kim Jong Un’s human rights violations smack of the kind of appeasement that allowed Hitler to proceed in the 1930s. They are comments that a leader who wishes he had absolute power—and would exercise it in a similar manner—would make. Shame on all of Trump’s enablers.
145
Hitler is a "too easy" Trump analogy to which I also plead guilty. A better analogy is that of Juan Peron of Argentina, a greedy, narcissistic, self-aggrandizing dictator who was VERY friendly to former Nazis and helped them live comfortably under new aliases - until some like Eichman and Barbie were caught and brought to justice.
4
As the reporting became more focused on what this adminstration is doing to these families, my thoughts were much like yours, Barbara8101.
In a flash I thought, ....'isn't this what the Nazis did to the Jewish children when their parents were taken to the death camps?'
And now the religious leaders in our country are outraged? Really?
Thank you for your comment.
3
The level of conservative Christian and Catholic hypocrisy reveals a level of cognitive dissonance that cannot be believed! They deserve no respect for willfully manipulating kindness and empathy into greed and cruelty. Let's focus on their own sins and their sin of electing and covering for a despotic criminal. The meek shall inherit the earth.
35
Where's Orrin Hatch's voice? Mitt Romney's? Any of the Mormon legislatures, except Jeff Flake's?
So much for the fabled Mormon emphasis on the importance of families and hypocrisy of weekly "Family Nights."
At least the evangelicals are finally beginning to speak up -- were they shamed into it by the Catholics?
49
You confuse the Mormon "Family Nights" with their more important "Friday Night Lights," which is what Utah is all about, second only to Texas, Oklahoma and the "Old Confederacy."
2
Ministers from every faith!
We congregants demand that you, our so-called "family values" leaders, visit every detention center (unannounced) and witness, first hand, the inhumane treatment of caged youngsters who have been ripped away from their mothers?
My bet is they are too chicken to leave the confines of their marble churches to do so. They also don't want to miss the passing of the collection plate.
26
They did not know who they helped to elect?
Since the 2016, I have lost all the respect for these religious leaders. For their own agenda, they voted for a man whose immorality is unquestioned. Their hypocrisy stinks up to High Heaven.
63
"these religious leaders" and the millions who follow them, apparently blindly, and voted this disaster into our White House. Simply deplorable.
2
For Graham and all the others who pooh-pooh what Trump is doing, but still stand behind him anyway.
You knew what he was. He told you what he would do. You wanted him. You voted for him. You got him.
Separating families who come here seeking a life for their children? And if that doesn't stop them from coming?
You want the wall? Any of you old enough to remember what the East Germans did to people trying to cross the wall?
This is the man who bragged he could shoot someone in the street and his followers would not turn from him.
It seems Donald Trump was right about that.
108
When will so-called Christians realize that you really can’t have it both ways—Christ did not discriminate when he spoke about loving our fellow humans and the kingdom of heaven is decidedly not open to the highest bidder. Evangelicals and their prosperity gospel are truly reprehensible but so too are Catholics who ignore and denigrate this truth-speaking great Pope.
25
Jesus loves the little children,
All the little children of the world,
Red and Yellow, Black and White,
They are precious in his sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Traditional Bible School Song circa 1950's - 60's.
How far have we gone astray?
3
Human Rights! This can't be our country. Kids locked up in pens! North Korea is where people are held in cages.
54
It's about time these hypocrites started speaking up. Who knows if that devil's spawn they helped get elected will listen to them?
27
What did they expect? It won't be long before Trump and his goons come for them too.
14
Franklin Graham
You knew trump was a snake
When you let him in.
45
But sadly unlike his father, Franklin Graham is a snake too.
8
Sort of like Adam...and Frank and his "un"Christian genre will blame it on the Hispanic women (Eve) who are muling their kids across the border.
Cue actor: Frank looks to the sky with his eyes toward Heaven.
Frank: "Our prayers and hopes go out to the Border Patrol who has to deal with these subhuman mongrels attacking our Shinning Theocracy on the Hill."
so, that pesky Sermon on the Mount starts to kick in. Yeah, they're the meek, but maybe they don't make that connection.
18
shame on the evagelicals who are double faced with several issues... their chief goal in life is abortion issues ... the only reason they support this criminal potus is for the supreme court GOP issue
21
Thank God it didn't take death camps for these people to speak up.
19
There is a special place in hell for those who rip families apart for political gain based on fake notions of national security.
81
Oh, good. Why who knows--maybe in five or six years, Graham et al will figure out that having Nazis and Klansmen march down the street and cheer for Trump is also against the teachings of Christ.
Not holding my breath for their evangelical missives against gun-waving, though.
17
Denouncing his" immigration policies," but not his genital grabbing, his uninterrupted lying about everything, his racism, his destruction of American norms and institutions, his attacks on our longest and best allies, his efforts to remove healthcare, and the social safety net, from the most vulnerable people in our country, yadda, yadda, yadda? I'm really impressed with these "Christians." Why are the ranks of non-believers growing, by leaps and bounds? Because decent people don't want to be associated, in any way, with these self-righteous fakers.
29
“It’s terrible to see families ripped apart.”—Rev. Franklin Graham.
Oh, please, Rev. Bleeding Heart. The Times recently ran weekend piece about your California caravan to bring out the anti-immigrant bloc to get them to the primary polls. You said that if enough people vote for anti-immigration politicians then they could gum up the ballots for the mid-terms in November. With enough victories in certain state races and Congressional House contests, you said it might be possible to send enough legislators to both Sacramento and Washington to have the Right keep beating the anti-immigration anvil.
You, sir, like many of your evangelical “Christians,” weep and wail and gnash your teeth about the separation of children from their parents, but when it’s not a front page issue, or when the cable network cameras aren’t around, then neither is your faux concern about these people, Christ’s “least,” that you and the Republican Party left behind long ago.
Go back to your traveling S.U.V., Reverend, and count your money. These unfortunates aren’t anything to you except publicity.
248
They have transformed their religions into instruments of hate. They have made a pact with the devil. And now they are surprised that these fascist monsters are behaving accordingly. These cowards are not men and woman of faith, they are business people, using the cloak of faith to brainwash the feeble minded. They have encouraged discrimination against the LGBT community, promoted assassinations of abortion doctors, compromised their beliefs to put a devil in power to defend their morally twisted interpretation of the good book. They are the cause of why these families are being torn apart, so their moral indignation sounds as hollow as the faith they claim to have.
43
Yours is the best Post here and so, so true.
2
This situation is truly repugnant. I want to hear political leaders in both the Democratic and Republican parties crying loudly in outrage! I am absolutely disgusted—
Shame on us, America!
30
Evangelicals... Taking the Christ out of Christianity.
51
What part of this sounds like the President, his immigration policy, or the sentiments of his supporters?
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
15
Trump supporting Franklin Graham, Conservative Catholics and Evangelicals should have known better
Give an inch to the Devil and he becomes your Ruler...………...
19
Bible thumpers--shut your mouths and get out of the way. Haven't you done enough damage over the past forty years?
15
It appears that they are finally aware that they may be next on Trump’s hit list; “first they came for the Gypsies, then they came for the Jews...”
10
All these Churches and other religious institutions must be taxed and monitored (and prosecuted if found guilty) for supporting human trafficking and illegal immigration in USA.
Religion is tax free in most, if not all, countries including the US. That tax-free status and massive fraud by these religious guys are not mere coincidence either (check the video till end). That's one of the reasons why it has so deep connection with politics and politicians like Trump in USA and elsewhere.
No wonder, both religion and politics thrive on stupidity and that's why people like Trump gets elected in the most successful democracy in the world.
We should not give tax benefit to religious organizations and businesses using religion.
Entertainment is also a matter of personal choice and belief. But it's taxed (rightly so). Religion is now a $1.3 trillion business and it should not be any different than entertainment and must be taxed.
13
Here is the video, which I forgot to include in my message, from a show in HBO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y1xJAVZxXg
1
Not like they are actually chaining themselves to gates of the detention centers, that might upset trump.
8
While it's heartening to see Trump's evangelical base finally object to something he's doing on moral grounds, one wonders where their outrage has been hibernating. If separating families is their call to arms, one shudders to imagine what will be their last straw.
9
this is all just Trump-aganda from the evangelical crowd-they have no more feeling or care about immigrants than ICE agents do! All they care about is getting their religious beliefs thrust upon the average American.
7
Pretty funny and ironic that it’s we atheists who find ourselves asking “what would Jesus do?” when considering the immigration mess.
29
So what. Who will they actually VOTE for ??? And instruct their flock who to vote for ???? That's where the rubber hits the road. Seriously.
12
I used to trust Christians. Now after watching them support a man who has grown in popularity for being hard on the weak I realize how hateful they can be. They were quick to believe the over 100,000 different false articles and ads made up to destroy the democrats were true. They loved chanting lock her up about a public servant who has helped the poor and disabled all her life. They hate helping the poor and tell themselves poor means lazy looser just like Trump says. Everywhere I turn I hear slander. The GOP is cheering as a dictator takes over our government. It has only taken a madman comfortable with lies and acting out. The more he tears America apart and isolates us from our allies, the more his base cheers.
11
The Republican Party is imploding and Franklin Graham does not want Christians to be identified with it's failings. A porn star was elected in Nevada, a pedophile was running strong in Alabama, Rep. Steve King tweets alt-right messages, the RNC Chairwoman calls out threat demanding loyalty to Trump and now the whole Trump family sued by NY for persistent illegal conduct. Franklin Graham is just doing what televangelists do - damage control.
16
Don't be fooled by the new found morality of some of the Evangelicals and Conservative Catholics who are ardent Trump supporters.
The Trump's administration's immoral treatment of Central American children is resonating in their home countries.
Latin (Central & South) America has been a growing market for evangelicals. In the past few years, many American televangelists have sought to expand their religious empires in this largely conservative, Catholic region.
The undying, obsequious support of Trump by Conservative Catholics and evangelicals; particularly in light of his cruelty and overt anti-Hispanic/immigrant rants, have left many brown and black folks in those areas questioning the morality and integrity of these American conservative Christian groups.
It is now more about losing stature, position, power, and most importantly, money in the emerging, lucrative Christian markets of the Central and South American countries
If the treatment of the "least of these" (poor, minority and immigrant families) as well as the preserving of the sanctity of the family were always at the forefront of these religious groups, they would never have supported a presidential candidate who openly discriminated against minorities, attacked gold-star families, had numerous extramarital affairs, made fun of disabled people and bragged about walking in unannounced on half-naked teenage beauty pageant contestants....
11
Franklin Graham, deflecting responsibility from Trump: “I blame the politicians for the last 20, 30 years that have allowed this to escalate to where it is today.”
No, Franklin: the rate of illegal immigration across our southern border was at the lowest level in years when Trump took office, so the only reason these practices are in use now is purely due to Trump's amoral cruelty.
82
Oh Mr Graham, There you go again, rationalizing your support of a very evil man.
God does not like you spinning the truth!
Separating young children from their parents is strictly a "Trump Regime" policy.
11
Just follow the money.
Religious organizations - Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and other have turned immigrants into a money-making operation. They receive substantial government funding to house and place immigrants.
President Trump is cutting off their gravy train, and they don't like it one bit.
8
I don't think that's the reason they object to this treatment of immigrants, John. But hey, this is still America: if you want to believe that's the reason, go right ahead. No one's going to lose any sleep over the fact that you want to believe that distress over the loss of a human "gravy train" is the reason for this denunciation on the part of religious groups.
4
Lindsay:
We can certainly disagree, but approximately $40 million per year suggests that I am right.
https://cis.org/Religious-Agencies-and-Refugee-Resettlement
2
Religious leaders don't matter and there aren't enough of them speaking up. Why? Because they are anti immigration as well. It's one reason they sacrificed their Christian principals and voted for him. It's Congress and the courts that need to DO SOMETHING. But the GOP is too afraid to speak against Trump and they happily approve the right wing judges he nominates.
10
The "religious right" sold itself to Trump in exchange for a few court picks, an embassy in Jerusalem and other trinkets. Trump's actions and words speak volumes, and his administration's treatment of immigrants, the poor, minorities, etc. would make Jesus, a liberal Jew, blanch.
75
Mathew 25:39-41 is going to come back and haunt a whole lot of these religious right folks..………...
6
Perhaps, only perhaps, some of the evangelicals who are always calling liberals "baby killers" may be feeling a bit uncomfortable being called "baby snatchers."
And now is the new "Christian teaching" that if someeone comes to your door, who is poor and victimized by an oppressor, and is pleading for help, that you should snatch her children and put her in prison, and then send her, without her child, back into danger.
I'm not a scholar, but I haven't found that in the Bible. Has Trump been enshrined as a new prophet? Is the new doctrine "worship the rich." Exploit the rest. Deprive them of health, happiness, and let them die. Then blame them for it."
108
Check out the new headlines. He and his kids are in more deep legal doodoo. It doesn't end. Are we surprised? No, but somehow the Christians couldn't see it coming.
4
Good for these religious leaders for finally standing up for true Christian values!
2
Does Franklin Graham have a glimmer of conscience?
10
Let me see if I have this right: Franklin Graham denounces this Trump-era policy, but doesn't hold Trump accountable? This is willful ignorance.
86
No ignorance here...Thi$ i$ a profitable bu$ine$$ deci$ion on Graham's part!
Blame it on everyone else but Trump!
7
That Falwell Jr., Franklin Graham and so many other American evangelicals still support a proud sexual predator/racist like Trump further confirms what we already knew: their invocation of moral and religious values as the basis for their political views and actions is a shameless lie. They subordinate their so-called principles in favor of power and patronage, plain and simple.
They are a cancer on both Christianity and conservatism, and men of true principle when it comes to both recognized that long ago:
“I think every good Christian ought to kick [Jerry] Falwell right in the a-s.” – US Senator Barry Goldwater, Time Magazine July 1981
19
What did they expect from the indecent, unfit, lying Trump?
Already wallowing in the republican swamp, he adds "Child abduction" to his despicable credentials.
22
When is this flaming dumpster fire of an administration going to remove the inscription from the Statue of Liberty? Once upon a time, it actually had relevance. Now it is a bad joke.
15
The UN is reporting that 16 million people in Sub Saharan Africa are starving once again. Millions are starving in Yemen. Thousands of African men are drowning in the Mediterranean on their way looking for a better life in Europe. African men are being enslaved in Libya. Millions are suffering in Afghanistan and Iran. Millions are starving in Syria and Iraq and 113 politicians have been killed in Mexico since late 2017. Central America is drowning in excess population. Venezuela is filled with starving people. Haiti is filled with suffering hungry people. Why have we not opened our borders to these masses of people? Why should they suffer trying to raise six and seven children with no resources when the resources exist in abundance in the US?
5
Franklin Graham abhors families being ripped apart but that hasn't diminished his enthusiasm for President Trump?!?!?! He goes on to blame others who have allowed the immigration problem to escalate to where it is today?!?! How convenient. How hypocritical. From where I sit, this is just another "mulliigan" being doled out.
Apparently both the GOP leadership and the Evangelical leadership have one trait in common; no courage. Instead of adhering to Christ's admonition to help the weak, the poor and afflicted, this group seems most comfortable in only finding fault in others. They are a disgrace to their faith and to their party.
65
These are not Christian leaders, they are bigots hiding behind the doors of the church. Franklin Graham, a christian? If you call christianity for dollars being a christian, I suppose so. Where does the bible proclaim bigotry and hatred part of the Christian faith? These vagrants of the cloth are scurrying to cover their nasty tails.
27
Maybe people trying to enter a foreign country illegally shouldnt being their kids.
1
You can risk having your children killed by a gang in El Salvador or you can risk them dying in the Texas desert and being apprehended if they make it and the chance for life in America. Moral righteousness aside..if you are the parent..."What would Jesus do"? and "What choice would you make"?
9
And maybe Christians, or people who profess to be Christians, shouldn't be Trump supporters. There's a "maybe" for every argument. Yours could use a little more compassion and a little less moralizing.
7
Will these Christian fundamentalists, who are destroying America from within, would support granting mass asylum to Muslim and other non-Christian, non-white refugees, illegal immigrants and asylum seekers who can be brought to the US border or smuggled inside USA with the same aggression and passion as these guys show for illegal Christian (mostly Catholic) immigrants from Latin American countries?
No sane person would believe that they would!
5
Middle Eastern and North African immigrants are white and have been counted as such since 1944. Iraqi Chaldeans are Christians and have been targeted for deportation for minor crimes. There is no evidence that evangelicals are destroying the country from within. Their numbers are declining, especially among those under 30. Choose your stereotypes more wisely.
Fore legal purpose you are right. But all practical purpose they are considered Brown and there is a effort from White House trying to change that.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/30/white-house-want...
It's not just Evangelicals, all religious fundamentalism and bigots do to any country, including USA. Data shows that and US is the worst in terms of religious fundamentalism among developed countries (and we got Reagan and now Trump for that).
You are right when you say, "Their numbers are declining, especially among those under 30." Again you are ignorant that it's not just Evangelicals, but all religious faith is on decline in USA for many years now.
The worst part is- agnostic and atheists are the second largest (non) religious group in the country, only after Christianity. They would become the largest with about 25 percent of American population if you consider different sects of Christianity. Second largest would be Trump's main support base of Evangelicals. Yet, this huge part of Americans do not have a single representative in US Congress, who has the wisdom and guts to openly admit it. The last one from California resigned few years ago.
You are right form law point of view. But for all practical purposes, those people are considered brown and there is an effort led by the White House to change that.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/30/white-house-want...
It's not just evangelicals, all religious fundamentalists and bigots do harm the country they live, to any country including the USA. Social well being and economic prosperity is inversely proportional to religious faith among people, as per published credible data. Data also shows that and US is the worst in terms of religious fundamentalism (and an outlier in that correlation study by PEW research) among developed countries. So we got Reagan and now Trump who damaged US as a country far more than any of its enemies.
You are right when you say, "Their numbers are declining, especially among those under 30." Again you are ignorant that it's not just Evangelicals, but all religious faith is on decline in USA for many years now.
The worst part is- agnostic and atheists are the second largest (non) religious group in the country, only after Christianity. They would become the largest with about 25 percent of American population if you consider different sects of Christianity. Second largest would be Trump's main support base of Evangelicals. Yet, this huge part of Americans do not have a single representative in US Congress, who has the wisdom and guts to openly admit it. The last one from California resigned few years ago.
The condemnation of these Evangelical leaders is meaningless because they still support this President against all other criticism. Thus, he can ignore their calls with impunity even as he continues to break up immigrant families.
16
Empty words. Trump would have to do much worse than this to lose a single vote from any of these evangelicals. Notice how Franklin Graham equivocated and shifted the blame to past administrations. The excuse making never stops.
29
Sorry, it took them long enough. The nonreligious were aghast weeks ago. I don't want to hear any more nonsense about the moral superiority of the religious, Their actions or lack of them, speak louder than their words.
21
Mike Pence, of course, is all in for Trump's family separation plan. The eminent philosopher, Peter Townshend's thoughts on the likes of Mr. Pence are extremely apropos at this juncture:
It's an eminence front
It's an eminence front, it's a put on
An eminence front
Eminence front, it's a put on
Eminence front
It's an eminence front
It's an eminence front, it's a put on
It's a put on, it's a put on, it's a put on
4
I take exception to " The same Evangelicals and Roman Catholics who helped President Trump to build his base." Including Roman Catholics in this portion of the article is misleading! Aside from Donohue and his fringe Catholic League group, implying that Catholic clergy helped form Trump's base continues The New York Times Catholic bashing! The overwhelming majority of Catholic Priests and their leadership, all the way up to Pope Francis, right from the start of Trump's candidacy, knew he lacked moral leadership, among other deficiencies!
11
To put it mildly, my current city pastor disagrees with the current resident. I know many Catholic women, who vote solely on the abortion and birth control issues.
I attended their same Catholic grade school taught by mostly Franciscan nuns. We ALL should have learned that every human being was made in God's image and likeness, AND that God gave us free will to sin or not; e.g., pro-choice. Jesus also espoused that the Second Greatest Commandment was to "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus was for the separation of Church and State with "Render to Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's".
By the fourth grade, I also learned that the Bible is neither a history or a science book. I was glad as I didn't approve of God's telling Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. In high school, my Franciscan nun told us that a "day" (in Genesis) was (a metaphor for) a period of time.
Recently, a NYT commenter noted that the Catholic Church supported the theory of Evolution in the 19th century. Decades ago, The Sun in Baltimore wrote a similar editorial. This was about the time after the Second Vatican Council (started by St. Pope John XXIII) was implemented, which comforted me. I was hopeful that these beliefs would be in sync with the ideals of the Declaration / Constitution.
The first Polish Pope's policies eventually disappointed me as did the R's in the 1980s. NO group should convince the Court to benefit their beliefs and rights over another's.
2
How can they protest this yet maintain their support for Trump with all the cruelty he is inflicting upon women and the poor? There seems to be hypocrisy here. Also, as a Catholic I know the entire Church does not support Trump. In fact it is the small minority of radicals who do.
10
It's about time. We have reached the point where we are ripping children from their parents and then incarcerating the children, all the while putting out the idea that these children are going to loving 'foster families' ...well, Franklin Graham doesn't like this one bit.
Of course, he blames Obama, but hey ... HE DOESN'T LIKE IT.
What's he going to do about it?
Shame on any faith leader who doesn't come out and repeatedly and loudly condemn this action.
24
This whole illegal immigration and forced asylum tourism are promoted in the US by catholic churches (vast majority of Latin American people are catholic), besides a section of Democratic party. Both of these two entities (Catholic church and Democratic party) view these people are future support base once they successfully come to America and/or become American citizen - even after breaking laws. It must stop.
2
"Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Tucson, Ariz. suggested to the meeting that “canonical penalties” be imposed on Catholics “who are involved” in the policies of family separations, though he did not specify what he meant. Canonical penalties can involve denial of the eucharist or even excommunication. His suggestion was not adopted."
We don't need "canonical penalities", Bishop Weisenburger, and the people involved in these family separations won't care if you impose them. These people are separating families and sending children to detention centers; do you honestly believe they are going to quake in their boots because you deny them communion on Sundays, provided that they even show up at church at all?
This Catholic says: enough with the medieval, nonsensical solutions to real-world, 21st century problems. Raise your ecclesiastical voices, speak out against injustice, and do the right thing. Stop kicking the can down the road and dithering about communion. That's not what Jesus would do. Time to start acting like Him.
17
You can’t have it both ways, Franklin. Trump himself endorses these policies, TODAY, and you know it. Can you start telling the whole truth?
18
Conservatives have no right to complain. They should have known whom they were getting when they elected Trump. They will all reap what they sow
10
The Evangelical Christians have been receiving calls that they are in cahoots with Trump's totalitarianism while saying that they are ProLife. Also, what you are not hearing is the economic issues in the agricultural parts of the country where there is a huge shortage of workers. Expect higher prices this year in the market. It's getting expensive to find labor.
9
So Franklin Graham is upset that the serial adulterer he helped elect doesn’t think the family is sacred? Go figure...
40
The Graham family has their own dark secrets that they'd like to keep out of the spotlight. If Franklin is preaching , it's because he stands to gain in some way. This is the same guy that was bringing in two full time six figure salaries financed by Christian donations. How do you work two full time jobs at the same time? Jesus has left the stage.
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About time. As a citizen, you can be For a strong immigration policy AND commitment to humane and civil rights for immigrants who have arrived on our soil. These are not mutually exclusive goals.
Reject the zero sum narrative of Trump and support bipartisan negotiation towards a fair enforceable and humane immigration policy. It can be done if we work for it. So far our Congress has failed to do this for over 30 years. It is a difficult issue but it is not impossible. Voters should insist on this.
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The Nazis separated children from their parents. Nothing more needs to be said.
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So, there is hope that evangelicals and Catholics who support Trump may be able to recognize some of his administration's actions as immoral.
Good, but they've got a long way to go to catch up with the rest of us.
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Avery, VERY long way!
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Pfft! I'm unimpressed with the griping of a few evangelicals about one facet of the Trump administration. Each and every evangelical that I've spoken to (some in my own family) are overjoyed with Trump.
I get the strong sense that any disapproval of the asylum/immigration policies is only lip service. Sort of like disapproval some of them feel when a member of the congregation only goes to church for one hour on Sunday or tithes net income instead of gross income.
You can bet that they'll vote for any Trump/Pence ticket in 2020.
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Some religious leaders of all beliefs have strongly supported Trump-Pence-GOP because this team has offered them help on their 'pet projects' (e.g. public funding for religious schools, support for a specific nation, repeal of women's rights to personal healthcare).
Always these intelligent religious leaders were aware their requests were divisive and that only a divisive team in power seeking self-glorification would help. Both sides have played each other in a selfish pas de deux. Now these pious religious leaders cry 'foul' when their ill behaved dog bites them. Both sides are entirely hypocritical.
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Wait....religious leaders, hello evangelicals...actually speaking out against 'the great leader'??? Can't believe it. Ethics and morals suddenly mean more than money, power and lording it over the unchosen???
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Finally some Christians who actually attempt to practice forgiveness and love!
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Who put the Con in Concentration Camps? Sort 'em out - all the way out please - and vote accordingly. This parade towards Feudalism and away from Constitutional Democracy needs to stop.
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NOW you're sorry, Franklin Graham? Too late. You sold your soul to the devil. You must live with the shame.
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The article says:
The Rev. Franklin Graham, a son of the famed evangelist the Rev. Billy Graham and an outspoken defender of President Trump, said in an interview on Tuesday on the Christian Broadcasting Network, “I think it’s disgraceful, it’s terrible to see families ripped apart and I don’t support that one bit.”
He quickly made it clear that this had not dimmed his enthusiasm for Mr. Trump, adding, “I blame the politicians for the last 20, 30 years that have allowed this to escalate to where it is today.”
So the answer to your question, concerned citizen, is "No, he still supports Emperor Donald the First, notwithstanding the issue of how families are mistreated."
Graham has learned NOTHING. He is blind to the truth.
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Franklin Graham certainly has flexible ethics. In fact, he seems to be a veritable ethical yogi.
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Lay down with dogs; get up with fleas.
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The Catholic leaders refusing penalties for Catholics involved in ripping babies from their mothers arms. Cowards.
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Its about time ..... well, past time that those who claim to be Christians stand up to the inhumane policies of this (or any)administration. It gives a sliver of hope that these churches could find their way back to the gospel of Jesus rather than be outposts of the GOP dressed in camouflage as churches.
The church of my childhood became one of these places. It no longer is the welcoming place it was. It’s a small pod of True Believers of a political party line rather than a church. Many inside and outside have been damaged. A true and long soul searching is in order. I’m not optimistic. We shall see.
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When you look through the lens of racism, slavery and all the abhorrent things one has done to others then it becomes clear who these people are.
Barbarians in the White House
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My family and I have now officially left organized religion, because of the obvious hypocrisy and racism. There really is not more "Christianity". Only what benefits their wallets. I am beyond disgusted with what is happening in America. Fascism, has arrived, and it's not pretty.
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I'm sorry, but I have to ask how this comes as a surprise to conservative religious leaders and other evangelicals. Trump outlined what he wanted his immigration policies to be. They not only voted for him, but they campaigned and donated towards his election as well. They made a deal with the devil and now have remorse. This awareness comes in way too late.
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I don't believe that they DO have remorse. You never hear any of them denouncing the administration. At best, any time they feel the need to criticize they leave Trump out of it and blame that nebulous entity 'Washington' (i.e. Congress).
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@ Kristy
Remorse? I don't detect any remorse in Mr. Graham's response. He's blaming others.
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Totally agree with you. What was that in the bible somewhere: "you reap what you sow"? I have zero sympathy.
It really is infuriating to see how Trump's supporters refuse to criticize him for anything. While I commend the Rev. Franklin Graham for speaking out against the Administration's initiative to separate families once they cross the border, it is the worst kind of enabling to blame not Trump, but "the politicians for the last 20, 30 years that have allowed this to escalate to where it is today.”
Allowed what to "escalate?" The entry of people seeking asylum? We should be encouraging that, not punishing it, and a religious leader, of all people, should understand that. And it has not suddenly become necessary to separate families -- that's a choice, and a truly despicable choice, that this Administration has made.
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@lydgate: Comment him? For what? That's like commending a robber for stealing your wallet but allowing you to keep your flip-flops.
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Not two weeks ago Franklin Graham was being interviewed on local radio demanding absolute support for the amoral lying con man Trump. So like Trump he speaks out of both sides of his mouth. The hypocrisy of evangelicals has been exposed. The necessity of separating church and state has never been more apparent.
Here again is reason why the president has so much support from the intolerant and hypocritical Christian right. They abhor the separation of children from their parents but blame the politicians of the recent past for the immigration mess and not the president.
The evangelicals do not "love these people" and don't care about them.
The president calls the Dreamers "incredible kids", but he doesn't want them in the country and refuses to protect them. He talks out both sides of his mouth as do the Christian evangelicals about being appalled at ruining these families. They would rather ignore the gospel of Jesus Christ than defy the president.
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This seems like a case where phony religious leaders are using alligator tears in place of empathy to bolster a charlatan president and his gangs of right-wing thugs who are abusing brown people. They are blaming the past while visiting the sins of the fathers on the children in the present. What a lovely Christian motif for next Christmas: no room at the inn, so put the parents in jail and send the baby off to the Walmart warehouse.
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