Bearing true witness: LDS Church must end its silence on immigration reform
Editor's Note: This post is the joint effort of Les Roka and Mark Alvarez.
There are times for silence. In our capacity to reflect, meditate and pray, silence gives us the strength to realize our personal call to human dignity, compassion and respect.
There are times when silence is inexcusable. These occasions require mature, reasoned communication.
Debate over immigration policy and reform has long been contentious. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church") has spoken from time to time on this. The declarations hew closely to neutrality, often with a call for thoughtful and respectful dialogue.
Several years ago in a Utah climate of heightened anti-immigrant rhetoric, the LDS Church essentially declared that its sacraments and services were open to all regardless of immigration status.
In 2006, during an active immigration debate, the LDS Church responded to comments by pundit Lou Dobbs and declared in part:
"The Church, in fact, has made no comment so far on the immigration debate, recognizing that this complex question is now before Congress and is already being thoroughly aired in the public square."
In 2008, the Deseret News reported, "LDS Church leaders have told legislative bosses that the 'element of humanity' should be reintroduced to the state's immigration debates." A spokesperson emphasized that the LDS Church had not taken a position with regard to legislative proposals on immigration. The LDS Church position on immigration can be found here.
In 2008, the legislature passed SB81, which became law with the signature of Governor Huntsman. SB81 dealt with immigration issues and went into effect on July 1, 2009.
Recently, the contentious debate has become ever more nasty and hostile. The new Arizona law SB1070 has provoked rhetoric from all sides that diverges from measure and reason toward hate and illogic. Unfortunately, human beings suffer as targets for political and organizational interests.
The founders of this country declared that humans are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves. Nevertheless, it is high time to reform the forms to which we too long have been accustomed.
Reform must begin with responsible speech. Sound arguments do not need loaded language.
Several Utah legislators and candidates for public office, who are quick to identify themselves as proud defenders of Mormon values, have unashamedly adopted the "anchor baby" term and its racist variations in their call for legislation to restrict birthright citizenship. Their argument is loaded with half-truths, misleading information and a fallacious interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution and subsequent case law.
Here is the controlling language:
"Amendment XIV.
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Truth is a moral value. Bearing false witness undermines meaningful public dialogue that searches to address broad societal challenges.
For a moment, let us return to charged words and "anchor baby." Grant Barrett, American lexicographer and editor of the Double-Tongued Dictionary, citing numerous uses in print, says the use of the term "anchor baby" goes much deeper than the issue of birthright citizenship:
"[It] is used for any immigrant. Those who use this term tend to be opposed to all immigration and immigrants, not illegal immigration, especially those who use their immigration stance as a mask for racism and xenophobia."
Babies, families and society suffer with these hateful terms and divisive speech.
That LDS Church members prominent in Arizona and Utah politics have become aggressive with anti-immigrant rhetoric including the liberal use of the term "anchor baby" should strike one as odd given the global reach of their church. It has caused considerable dismay in the Spanish-speaking community.
As co-host of the Spanish-language radio show Pulso Latino, I [Mark] have weekly conversations with people about this issue. Many bluntly criticize the LDS Church and ask me to do the same. Some consider the political speech to be the de facto voice of the LDS Church.
Some Latino Mormons have said that the anti-immigrant rhetoric of Mormon politicians and the silence of the LDS Church have challenged their faith. This poses a plain challenge to many.
There is an incumbent moral responsibility in the effort to enact comprehensive immigration reform, especially in crafting provisions to achieve a reasonable, humane solution to a long-enduring human problem.
More particularly for a church so essentially based in global missionary work and evangelism where cultural and ethnic exchanges are fundamental to spiritual vibrancy, the leaders of the LDS Church have a stake in the tone and character of the public dialogue occurring on the home turf of its ecclesiastical headquarters.
At the very least, the LDS Church justifiably can ask that the public dialogue bear true witness to values exemplifying compassion and the generous spirit of hospitality and redemption that is at the heart of the Mormon doctrine.
Silence would be a monumental failure of moral responsibility and spiritual ethics.
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