Shoulder to Shoulder leaders speak out to welcome Muslims and refugees

Shoulder to Shoulder leaders condemn new Muslim ban and speak out for religious values and national ideals to welcome Muslims and refugees

Washington, DC – The new Muslim Ban — temporarily halted in the courts — stands in contrast with our faith traditions and our American ideals of religious freedom, inclusion, equality, and justice.

The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign exists as an interfaith coalition and organization because the problem of anti-Muslim bigotry and Islamophobia continues to afflict our society and manifest in inhumane and discriminatory policies such as the Muslim ban. The Muslim ban does not make our country safer, it is an affront to our religious values and national ideals.

Shoulder to Shoulder’s Chair and Executive Director of National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), Rev. Ron Stief commented “The action of the federal judge to halt Muslim Ban 3.0 is further evidence that the ban is rooted in fear and further foments division in America. Many of those who would be banned from coming to the U.S. are fleeing torture, sexual exploitation, and unimaginable violence. They should be welcomed with open arms, not blocked.”

Kathryn Lohre Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations in the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), shares that “as people of faith, we find in our various scriptures different versions of the same call to welcome the stranger into our midst. The banning of vulnerable refugees is inconsistent with our values as people of faith, and as Americans. We will not stand by as families are separated, and people who are seeking safety are turned away. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder to protect against the kind of religious bigotry inherent in any executive order or government policy.”

As news around the Muslim ban continues to unfold, faith communities of all traditions are praying and taking action. They are standing in solidarity with one another and calling on the leaders of our country to draw inspiration from our religious and moral values so that we can uphold our national ideals.

Founded in 2010, The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign is an interfaith coalition of local, regional, and national organizations who are committed to educating, equipping, and mobilizing faith communities to end anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States.  The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ are charter members of the Campaign.