Skip to main content

Evangelicals say Ron DeSantis is threatening religious liberty with his support for a bill that criminalizes aid for immigrants

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
  • A group of Florida evangelicals on Thursday criticized a bill that criminalizes the transport of migrants.
  • The bill makes it a felony to knowingly assist an undocumented immigrant.
  • Church leaders warned it could hinder their ability to preach the gospel.

A group of evangelicals on Thursday spoke against an effort by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans to make it a felony to knowingly transport an undocumented immigrant, calling it a potentially dangerous infringement on religious liberty.

DeSantis, who is weighing a run for the presidency, has styled himself as a warrior for the Christian faith and a hardline opponent of illegal immigration. But on a conference call, Florida pastors said his support of a measure making its way through the Florida legislature threatens their ability to preach the gospel.

"As followers of Christ, we are living out our faith most clearly when we answer the call to care for those in need: widows, orphans, immigrants and the poor," Jody Ray, a pastor at Chets Creek Church in Jacksonville, said on the call. "Any law that would hinder our ability to carry out our calling to care for anyone in need would be a violation of our religious freedom."

At issue is a provision in the bill that would impose, per the legislative text: "criminal penalties for persons who knowingly and willfully violate, or who reasonably should know and who violate, certain provisions relating to the transporting into or within this state, or the concealing, harboring, or shielding from detection, or the attempt thereof, of individuals who entered the United States unlawfully and without inspection by the Federal Government."

Violators could be charged with a second-degree felony under the bill, which in Florida is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The bill is also opposed by the ACLU, with its Florida chapter noting that it could criminalize providing transport or shelter to people "who have lived in Florida for decades and have US-born children."

There are around 772,000 undocumented immigrants in Florida, according to the Migration Policy Institute, with roughly half having resided in the United States for more than a decade.

Gary Shultz Jr., a pastor at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, said the bill, currently making its way through the Florida Senate, would force his congregants to choose between their faith and their freedom.

"As Christians, we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves, and that includes immigrants that God brings into our state," he said, a duty that extends to providing not just spiritual support but material assistance. "If this bill were enacted as currently drafted, it would place Florida's Christians and churches in an untenable decision, having to decide between obeying biblical commands or facing criminal penalties for showing biblical compassion."

Another church leader suggested DeSantis and other Republicans were playing politics — but confusing evangelical support for the rule of law with backing for punitive measures targeting vulnerable immigrants.

"Elected officials seeking to appeal to evangelical voters are making an error, morally and strategically, by pursuing harsh, anti-immigrant legislation, especially when they go so far as to criminalize basic elements of church ministry in the process," Gabriel Salguero, pastor at The Gathering Place in Orlando and president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, told reporters. Salguero said is "praying" that DeSantis and his legislative allies "abandon this misguided bill."

It's not the first time religious leaders have clashed with DeSantis, who has styled himself a warrior for the Christian faith. Catholic leaders have also condemned his policies and rhetoric on immigration, with the Florida Catholic Conference, which represents the state's bishops, recently telling Insider that it opposes DeSantis' efforts to expand the death penalty.

A spokesperson for DeSantis did not return a request for comment.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider


from Business Insider https://ift.tt/YFqJepn
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Instagram accidentally reinstated Pornhub’s banned account

After years of on-and-off temporary suspensions, Instagram permanently banned Pornhub’s account in September. Then, for a short period of time this weekend, the account was reinstated. By Tuesday, it was permanently banned again. “This was done in error,” an Instagram spokesperson told TechCrunch. “As we’ve said previously, we permanently disabled this Instagram account for repeatedly violating our policies.” Instagram’s content guidelines prohibit  nudity and sexual solicitation . A Pornhub spokesperson told TechCrunch, though, that they believe the adult streaming platform’s account did not violate any guidelines. Instagram has not commented on the exact reasoning for the ban, or which policies the account violated. It’s worrying from a moderation perspective if a permanently banned Instagram account can accidentally get switched back on. Pornhub told TechCrunch that its account even received a notice from Instagram, stating that its ban had been a mistake (that message itse...

California Gov. Newsom vetoes bill SB 1047 that aims to prevent AI disasters

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed bill SB 1047, which aims to prevent bad actors from using AI to cause "critical harm" to humans. The California state assembly passed the legislation by a margin of 41-9 on August 28, but several organizations including the Chamber of Commerce had urged Newsom to veto the bill . In his veto message on Sept. 29, Newsom said the bill is "well-intentioned" but "does not take into account whether an Al system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making or the use of sensitive data. Instead, the bill applies stringent standards to even the most basic functions - so long as a large system deploys it."  SB 1047 would have made the developers of AI models liable for adopting safety protocols that would stop catastrophic uses of their technology. That includes preventive measures such as testing and outside risk assessment, as well as an "emergency stop" that would completely shut down...

If only your bike had a trunk. Oh wait, now it does.

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Biking is one of the best ways to get around, especially if you live in a city. It's quick, it's eco-friendly, and you get a bit of exercise.  If you already commute on two wheels or are thinking of starting, there's a storage device you kinda need. SEE ALSO: This bamboo keyboard combo adds a touch of tranquility to your workspace The Buca Boot is a pretty magical two-in-one hybrid: It’s a super secure storage box for your bike that works like the trunk of a car. You can lock your helmet or whatever else in it and leave it safely behind. It’s also a basket—open it up, and you can carry a bouquet of flowers and a baguette like the picturesque cyclist of your dreams.    Read more... More about Storage , Car , Bicycle , Trunk , and Cyclist from Mashable http://ift.tt/2eHNwLB via IFTTT