Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria on September 21st

We invite you to participate in the Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria on Wednesday, September 21st, the International Day of Peace.

Five plus years of war has taken a heavy toll on our Syrian brothers and sisters. On September 21 we will send a resounding interfaith call for an end to the devastating conflict that has shattered Syria.

Here are some ways to take part in the Global Day of Action and Prayer for Syria:

• Plan a prayer service or other activity in your community in conjunction with the day. Resources and a toolkit are posted on the Global Ministries website.
• Prior to the service, this interfaith Call for an End to the War in Syria will be issued at a press conference. We invite you to Endorse the Call by adding the name of your congregation, organization and community to the list of sponsors by sending an email to globaldayforsyria@gmail.com.
• Pressure your members of Congress and the White House to cease funding appropriations for military support and training of armed groups in Syria.
• Call on the Obama Administration to redouble U.N. efforts toward an immediate ceasefire in Syria, and urge that peace negotiations include a commitment to free and fair elections.
• Follow the Syrian Nonviolence Movement on Facebook.

Take Action Today to Welcome Refugees

Senate Voting on Bill to Stop Syrian and Iraqi Resettlement 
Call your Senators TODAY!

 

The U.S. Senate plans to vote this Wednesday, January 20th on H.R. 4038, "The American Security against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act," which would grind to a halt the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives in November, so it is critical that it not pass the Senate. Such proposals and the anti-refugee sentiment that has accompanied them are morally reprehensible and go against who we are as a nation. It is critical that Senators hear from their constituents NOW.

 

Call your Senators TODAY & EVERY DAY leading up to the vote: Urge them to vote NO to H.R. 4038 and any legislation that would stop, pause or de-fund the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

1-866-940-2439

Sample Script: “I’m a constituent from [State] and I support the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees. I am opposed to any bill that would stop or pause the resettlement of refugees of any nationality or religion. I urge the Senator to vote NO to H.R. 4038, The American SAFE Act.”

 

Below are some helpful points on the security checks involved in refugee resettlement, which is the focus of this legislation. The most important points to mention, however, are your story and why your community wants to welcome Syrian refugees.

·   The U.S. government handpicks the refugees who resettle here, and the U.S. resettlement process has the most rigorous screening process in the world.

·   Refugees are the most thoroughly vetted people to come to the United States, undergoing interagency screenings by the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Department of Defense, National Counter Terrorism Center and multiple intelligence agencies, including biometric checks, forensic document testing, medical tests and in-person interviews.

·   Continuing refugee resettlement while maintaining national security is not an either/or situation. The United States can continue to welcome refugees while also continuing to ensure national security. We can and must do both.

 

 You can also tweet your Senators and your network using the sample post below and a photo of yourself or your community:

“@SENATOR, Our community is ready to welcome #Syrian #refugees. Vote NO to H.R. 4038. #RefugeesWelcome #AmericaWelcomes!”

Statement of Archbishop of San Antonio Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS

My prayers are with the people of France, particularly of Paris, in these days when terrorism has reared its ugly head by spreading violence and pain among innocent people. As our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has said, one cannot do violence in the name of God and religion. It is unacceptable and inhuman. I invite the people of San Antonio to join me in praying for healing for all those who have been injured, for peace among the families who have been harmed, and for the repose of the souls of those who have died so tragically.

 

I strongly counsel our political leaders not to utilize this terrible situation for personal political gain, or to feed the worst of human impulses in response to this attack. Specifically, I refer to the need to treat the refugees who are innocent with compassion and decency. The overwhelming number of refugees fleeing to the west are coming precisely to escape the same horrific violence in their own lands. Many of these refugees are Christians who have been persecuted; who have lost their homes, their businesses, their schools, and their churches in the Syrian civil war. Additionally, many Muslims, who are not of the same sect as the ISIS fighters, have also been persecuted. Xenophobia is not a solution to this problem.

 

As has been stated by many, it is important to remember that these horrific attacks are the efforts of extremists and do not reflect the peaceful people of Middle Eastern descent here and around the world.

 

We must act according to the best of who we are as a society in these situations, and not according to our fears.

Support for Syrian Refugees

As the Leadership Conference of Women Religious remind us in their recent press statement, "We are witnessing the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. More than 4 million Syrians have fled violence in their homeland and 12 million more are displaced internally. Syrian refugees are fleeing exactly the kind of terror that we have witnessed in these past few weeks. More than 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives, many more have lost family, home, and community.

At a time when the world is in desperate need of humanitarian relief, some are calling for suspension of the US refugee resettlement program, an end to funding for Syrians, or a rationing of mercy based on religious creed. Such restrictions violate the tenets of our faith and the principles of our nation."

We must stand up to the fear-mongering and speak out in love for those fleeing violence.  As we approach the Advent season all Christians would do well to remember the story of our own humble beginnings, of a pregnant middle eastern woman seeking shelter in a foreign land as she prepares to give birth, and then fleeing death threats once she has brought her baby boy into the world.  Our challenge today is will we welcome the stranger, the children of God, who continue to seek safety and shelter, or will we turn our backs and say they not welcome here?  As Matthew 25:40 reminds us, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

So what can you do?

1)  If you are a clergy member or vowed religious, you can sign onto this statement of faith leaders:

 "We stand in support of public officials and faith communities who have answered the call to take in refugees.  Our nation’s elected leaders, citizens and service agencies should follow these examples and uphold the values that make America a nation that people around the world have risked their lives to reach.  Since America’s founding, we have striven to be a land of opportunity and safe harbor. Each generation faces an opportunity to live up to these principles. At times we have succeeded, and at times we have failed. The current debate about whether to welcome or turn away Syrian refugees whose lives are in danger is a historic test. We pray that our leaders will meet the challenge of this day and reject fear and cruelty." 

Please add your support via this link: http://tinyurl.com/CalledtoWelcomeSyrianRefugees

FPL will be releasing the full statement to the press on Thursday, so the deadline for signatures is COB (close of business) Wednesday, Nov. 18th.

2)  Tell Congress & Your Governor to WELCOME SYRIAN REFUGEES!

 

Background: As Catholics and other people of good will are donating to help Syrian refugees abroad and volunteering to welcome them through the Catholic Charities and social service agencies across the United States, the US government has been painstakingly vetting Syrians for US resettlement. The rigorous screening process is conducted over 18-24 months by refugee and security professionals through multiple interviews and multiple security checks. Unfortunately, in response to the shock of the Paris attacks, a number of US Governors recently announced that they want to stop their states from resettling Syrian refugees. Some Members of Congress have even introduced legislation that would stop refugee resettlement altogether. It is critical that public officials hear from their constituents NOW, including Catholics, as decisions are being made that could drastically impact the lives of Syrian refugees and refugee resettlement in the United States. The US has always been a haven for the world’s refugees and the Catholic Church plays a large role in that welcome. The US has a safe secure resettlement process through which we should continue that life-saving tradition. Welcoming refugees is the American way and an important part of our Catholic Christian calling. 

 

Please take action TODAY: Call your Representative and Senators : 

1-866-961-4293

Email the House Speaker’s office:  duppler@mail.house.gov

When you call, tell the receptionist that as a constituent, you want to help WELCOME Syrian refugees and that you are against the calls of some governors to reject Syrian refugees. Example: “I’m a constituent from [City, State] and I support the resettlement of Syrian refugees. I urge the Senator / Representative / Governor to represent me and other constituents who seek to welcome Syrian refugees by opposing any legislation that would halt or restrict funding to the U.S. refugee resettlement program." 

**In addition, Representative Hudson (NC-08) has drafted legislation that aims to essentially stop all Syrian resettlement. His effort is gaining traction quickly. It is very important that his office is flooded with positive calls about refugees and refugee resettlement TODAY. Please call his DC office at 202-225-3715 and/or his district office at 704-786-1612. To e-mail him please go to: https://hudson.house.gov/email-me**

You can also tweet your Members of Congress and your network:

@REPRESENTATIVE Our community is ready to welcome #Syrian #refugees. #RefugeesWelcome #AmericaWelcomes!     

3)  Check in your local community for any events or solidarity actions showing support for welcoming refugees and join in!  Or, if you can't find anything, consider hosting your own rally or prayer service for welcoming refugees around the world.  

• If you are in St. Louis, you can join this local event on Nov 22nd: https://www.facebook.com/events/1494245157537193/ 

4)  Sign a petition in support of welcoming more Syrian refugees

• There is a petition through MoveOn.org that you can sign HERE
• Here is a petition through Church World Service to increase the number of Syrian refugees accepted to the U.S.
• Here is a petition through Change.org

5)  Engage in conversations with your friends, family, and neighbors about the current refugee crisis and share why you think it is important to welcome the refugees and support their resettlement.