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Christmas time is usually a season of hope and joy, but fears of federal immigration enforcement actions and rumors that ICE may even target immigrants at churches are worrying families looking to worship with their community at Christmas services. 

Churches and faith leaders across Minnesota are calling for compassion and peace and for an end to hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric and fear-mongering. 

First Presbyterian Church of Mankato, like many Christian churches across the state, calls on its congregation to reach out to and support those in need, saying that they are essential elements of how they should live their faith.

Pastor Eric Garner said, at Christmastime, that also means protecting immigrant neighbors who feel threatened by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions targeting people in the U.S. without documentation.

“There are a lot of soul searching questions about, ‘How do we respond to the moment?’ and a lot of grief over the division,” Garner said of the people in his congregation. “We absolutely have an obligation to view the immigrants in our country as our neighbor and to show them love as a neighbor, and that's what I believe is the church's responsibility.” 

“And then every church, every Christian, is going to have to figure out how to faithfully live into that calling,” the pastor added.

Garner noted that this is supposed to be a time of year that is full of peace and joy, as Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of their savior. But he also said it’s vital that the church and its congregations not lose sight of the need to continue to reach out and provide comfort to those feeling anxious and scared.

“The things that people are dealing with because of this political cultural moment are heavy and never-ending,” said Elder Sophie Hoiseth, also of First Presbyterian Church of Mankato. “With immigration and the ICE raids, it's like a really scary time. I think people can trust that (our church) is a safer place or a braver place, like it's trying to be safe and brave for them.”

Hoiseth said many immigrants in her community are too afraid of attending services or other church fellowship events, fearing that they could be detained on their way to, from or even while at the church. She says it’s critically important to affirm their church’s mission and commitment to serving everyone regardless of who they are or where they're from.

In a demonstration of support for the Mankato area’s sizable and growing immigrant community, First Presbyterian plans to host training events soon for their congregants to  respond to and observe ICE enforcement actions in the region. The church is also partnering with local organizations that serve the immigrant community, including the Latino group, COPAL MN. 

Elsewhere in Minnesota, many churches and faith communities are also increasing efforts to serve and support the immigrant community. In a statement, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis called on “all people of good will — no matter their faith background or practice — to take a moment to pray.”

“We need to lower the temperature of rhetoric,” Hebda continued. “Stop fear-filled speculation and start seeing all people created in the image and likeness of God.”

He says that Catholic churches are places of refuge, and all are welcome for Christmas mass and other services. Hebda adds that Dept. of Homeland Security Officials have told the archdiocese that they do not intend to conduct enforcement actions at churches and K-12 schools unless there is an imminent public safety threat. 

Another faith leader urging people to tone down the rhetoric is Bishop Richard D. Howell, Jr. of Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, who also criticized how ICE enforcement actions are affecting families. 

“When people are taken from jobs, homes and daily life without warning, the result is not order. It is chaos when families are torn apart. The damage is not temporary. It is lasting,” Howell, Jr. said. “God places a high value on family, on the protection of children and on the dignity of every human being.”

who was joined by Gov. Tim Walz and other faith leaders

 for a news conference Tuesday at Shiloh Temple in Minneapolis, also said it was important to question actions that cause widespread fear.

“As people of faith, we must say plainly: Policies and practices that generate widespread fear and break families apart demand moral scrutiny,” he said. “So we call for approaches that uphold human dignity, preserve family unity and reflect the justice and mercy that God requires of us all.”

The message all these faith leaders from across the state are sending to Minnesotans this holiday season and beyond is clear: Love thy neighbor.

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Churches and faith leaders across Minnesota are calling for a cooling of the hateful rhetoric and a stop to the fear-mongering this Christmas as the threat of more immigration enforcement actions hangs over the holiday.

Faith leaders make Christmas call for compassion, end to anti-immigrant rhetoric

Men in robes holding a staff walk down a church aisle.

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Faith leaders make Christmas call for compassion, end to anti-immigrant rhetoric

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