Prayer offered for Representatives Gibbs, Joyce, Renacci, Boehner, et al.
The campaign for Comprehensive Immigration Reform has reached an important point as Senate Bill 744 has passed and the House of Representatives is preparing its own approach when it reconvenes on September 9th.
The Church?s position on immigration reform is deeply rooted in Catholic Social teaching. The Justice for Immigrants (JIF) campaign is the primary vehicle which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is using to achieve this reform.
Some key representatives whose districts reach the Diocese of Cleveland need to be told where the Church and its people stand on comprehensive immigration reform.
For complete information on the most difficult issues facing immigration reform go to: www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org --- scroll down the home page under the blue tab marked ?Policy? and click on the document ?Tackling the Toughest Questions on Immigration Reform."
A simple means is to send an electronic postcard to your Congressional Representative supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform; go to www.justiceforimmigrants.org
You also are asked to contact your representative and meet with him/her to explain why comprehensive reform is so necessary. Here are three of the local Reps we suggest contacting to arrange a meeting or to at least email:
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Congressman Bob Gibbs: (Ohio 7th District, including parts of Medina, Ashland, and Stark counties)
His Ashland office at 110 Cottage St. can be reached at 419-207-0650
or contact him at: www.gibbs.house.gov/contact-me/emailme
Twitter - @RepBobGibbs
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/RepBobGibbs
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Congressman David Joyce: (Ohio 17th District, including parts of Lake, Geauga, and Summit Counties)
His Painesville Office at 1 Victoria Place, Room 320 can be reached at 440-352-3939
or contact him at: www.joyce.house.gov/ or www.joyce.house.gov/email-me
Twitter - @RepDaveJoyce
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/RepDaveJoyce
(He currently has an online survey on his web site concerning immigration reform).
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Congressman Jim Renacci (Ohio 16th District; including parts of Cuyahoga, Medina, Summit, Wayne, and Portage counties)
His Wadsworth Office at 1 Park Center Drive, Suite 302 can be reached at: 330-334-0040
or contact him at: www.renacci.house.gov/contact-me
Twitter - @RepJimRenacci
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/RepJimRenacci
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Please consider this prayer before contacting these representatives:
A Prayer for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the United States
(For I was a stranger and you welcomed me.? Mt.25:35)
God, you who always journey with us, and especially with our most vulnerable sisters and brothers?
We pray for those who have come to our land in search of security and work, in search of a better life for themselves and their families: Grant them acceptance, respect, and a path to citizenship.
We pray for all members of Congress: Help them to realize their responsibility to work for the common good; help them to grown in wisdom and compassion as they shape a just and humane comprehensive immigration reform bill.
Spirit of Wisdom, enlighten our Representatives: Gibbs, Joyce, and Renacci et al. as they consider this issue; inspire especially House Speaker John Boehner to lead his colleagues with integrity and justice. Amen.