20 August 2007

Secular Authorities Should Not Allow Churches to Provide Sanctuary

Elvira Arellano, who has been claiming sanctuary in a church for about a year has been arrested.

I understand that a number of people on either side of the issue will either see her as a victim of a system that would separate her from her son, or as a law breaker hiding behind that same son. (Truth be told, I'm on the harsher side of this)

The bigger picture has nothing to do with immigration or children. It has to do with the fact that federal, state, and local authorities allowed a church to grant her sanctuary.

The idea of Church as sanctuary from law enforcement is a throwback to established religions in Europe, and something that the founding fathers specifically wanted to eliminate.

I would argue that when a church wants to claim "sanctuary" society, and law enforcement in particular, is under a specific obligation to seize that person with all deliberate speed.

0 comments :

Post a Comment