Support DREAM Act this weekend

By SISTER DOREEN GLYNN, CSJ- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

As justice coordinator for the Latham-based Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, I am involved in educating our sisters, associates and partners in ministry about current justice issues and events.

One such event will be occurring soon in churches, temples, synagogues and mosques throughout our country.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO) and religious leaders representing many faith traditions have planned a nationwide DREAM Act Sabbath for congregations around the U.S.

Religious leaders are encouraging their members to dedicate time at worship services during the weekend of Sept. 23-25 to focus on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.

Political leaders have been working on the DREAM Act for the past 10 years with strong support from many faith communities. The DREAM Act would give undocumented young students the opportunity to earn legal status with certain specifications:

• the students must have come to the United States at age 15 or younger;

• they must demonstrate evidence of good moral character;

• they must have graduated from high school or obtained a GED;

• they must have completed two years of college or military service in good standing.

In its 10-year history, the bill has passed in the House of Representatives and has received a bipartisan majority vote in the Senate, only to fall later because of a filibuster.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has asked Congress to move from partisan politics to advance the DREAM Act to passage. The Justice for Immigrants Campaign of the Conference is urging Catholic Church leaders across the nation to "incorporate petitions, prayers and homilies" into Masses Sept. 25 in support of passage of the DREAM Act.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., said: "These young persons who are, for all practical purposes, Americans like the rest of us, love this country so much that they risk deportation in order to advocate to become American citizens. Why would we not want to embrace their dedication, energy, talents and courage - characteristics that have made our nation great? It would be a detriment to forsake them."

Other religious traditions have also joined in support of the DREAM Act Sabbath. The We Were Strangers Too Jewish Campaign for Immigration Reform expressed support for both the DREAM Act and the Sabbath weekend: "Our Jewish religious and ethical traditions and our core American values call on us to welcome the stranger; yet the beneficiaries of the DREAM Act are really not strangers at all."

Imam Mohammed Magid, president of the Islamic Society of North America and an immigrant himself, said the society stresses the importance of a unified moral vision and speaking with one voice "to support these deserving children. We will stand together in solidarity - imams and clergy."

I ask people of all faith traditions to join in prayer during the DREAM Act Sabbath, Sept. 23-25. Our efforts at raising awareness and educating our communities about this critical issue cannot help but put a human face on a controversial political issue in our beloved land of opportunity.

(Sister Doreen is the new province justice coordinator for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, based in Latham.)[[In-content Ad]]