North Carolina Faith Leaders Applaud Republican Standards on Immigration Reform: Major Commitment from House Leadership Propels Reform Forward

On Thursday, House Republicans released their standards for immigration reform. The standards were met with broad support among top North Carolina faith leaders, who lauded the movement toward much-needed reform and called on Congress to pass reform this year.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/immigration-house-republicans-102884.html

  The following are quotes from North Carolina faith leaders:

Steve Angle, Pastor, Southside Community Church, Winston-Salem: "I am glad to see the immigration reform debate moving forward. In the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, our leaders - especially our Christian leaders - must be more vocal and biblically-based in speaking out about the way we treat the foreigner and the alien. We must be leaders, not followers, when we talk about immigrants and immigration."

Doug Gamble, Pastor of Mission Partnerships, Crossroads Fellowship, Raleigh: “There is much to appreciate about these principles. They touch the issues I care about, albeit not as compassionately as I might desire. Nevertheless, if embraced they would go a long way in improving our broken immigration system. There are many complex issues involved, and these principles leave much to be discussed on both sides of the aisle, but a just policy that is both fair and compassionate would be good for everyone. Let's hope that both sides would see that common sense and compassionate law should be a win-win for all parties and constituencies concerned here.”

Dr. James J. Seymour, Senior Pastor, North Haven Church, Raleigh: “Surely in a nation built by immigrants upon the foundation of Judeo-Christian principles of hard work, compassion, and opportunity.... a new immigration policy that both protects our borders and gives opportunities to all who dwell among us can be achieved. It is not a matter of possibility it is a question of inclination.”