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It’s not every day the ACLU of MAINE and the Catholic Bishop stand next to one another at a press conference.
This week, we did . A group of religious leaders in Maine called for a welcoming and civil approach to immigration policy – including the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese in Portland. They jointly signed the “
Maine Compact ”, previously signed by
Maine business leaders , which suggests five principles as a guide to the immigration debate in Maine. Religious leaders spoke about the principles of Families and Communities. Anti-immigrant policies tear families apart when one or both parents are detained or deported. Similarly, policies like
Arizona’s racial profiling law have sent unwelcoming messages to immigrants, resulting in mass exoduses of immigrants from Arizona due to fear, intimidation, and lack of equal protection under the law. Rabbi Carolyn Braun, Reverend Myke Johnson, Bishop Richard Malone, Reverend Roy Partridge and Maine Council of Churches Associate Director Eric Smith all spoke at the press conference. Reverend Partridge spoke on behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, which has signed the compact. Let’s hope their words made an impression on our state legislators as they begin to take up controversial immigration bills in the coming weeks, including a copycat bill of Arizona’s racial profiling law.