Story Created:
Aug 21, 2008 at 4:44 PM EST
Story Updated:
Aug 22, 2008 at 10:42 AM EST
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin wants U.S. immigration authorities to stop mass immigration raids in Rhode Island.
He says agents who refuse to participate in such raids on moral or religious grounds deserve to be treated as conscientious objectors.
Tobin made the request in a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Boston.
Read the full letter
His letter comes during a heated debate in Rhode Island, where immigration authorities have arrested more than 70 suspected illegal immigrants in two large sweeps. Many were Hispanics, and some sought help from the Catholic church.
An ICE spokeswoman says Tobin's diocese should focus on trying to help people follow immigration law or change it rather than asking federal agents not to enforce it.
ABC 6 reporter Kimberly Bookman has more...
Thursday, Sep 11 at 12:52 PM Anonymous wrote ...
I would like Bishop Tobin to stay out of the affairs of state. I believe our forefathers stated long ago there should be a separation of church and state. Further more my taxes are paying for these illegals in this country, and Bishop you pay no taxes at all. So this sould be none of your business. When Jesus found the criminal in his temple, he cast them out. I consider any illegal in this country to be a criminal, so they should be sent back. When you pay my taxes then you may have a say
6878099 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Thursday, Sep 11 at 7:43 AM Jan Arnold wrote ...
Bishop Tobin is getting the letters he deserves.He is a bishop taking the side of lawbreakers. They broke the law when they came into this country and again everytime they entered a state. They have children not because they want them or can take care of them but to use as pawns to get into and stay in this country. There are a lot of very nice people that are trying very hard to enter the country leagally and these ILLEGALS have no right to get a free pass.Take your children and leave.
6865074 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Aug 24 at 10:18 PM Robert Cuncic, Smyrna, Delaware wrote ...
Where does this Bishop come from telling ICE not to do it's job? We are talking about ILLEGAL ALIENS, for God's sake!...people who have NO RIGHT to be in this Country suckling off the American taxpayers. How many ANCHOR BABIES have the Americans paid for? Would 6.2 million be in the ball park? Did the Catholic Church pay for these ANCHORS? It's a shame that the Rhode Island State Illegal Immigration law failed because of a few Democraps. It would have helped a lot in problems like this.
6305102 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Aug 24 at 9:57 PM Ray Dubuque wrote ...
Let Catholic Bishops side with the down and out and all hell breaks loose. But let them side with the majority in denying fair and equal treatment for the gay minority and their homophobia is welcomed!
6304739 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Aug 24 at 7:50 PM Delaware Bob wrote ...
Where does this Bishop come from telling ICE not to do it's job? We are talking about ILLEGAL ALIENS, for God's sake!...people who have NO RIGHT to be in this Country suckling off the American taxpayers. How many ANCHOR BABIES have the Americans paid for? Would 6.2 million be in the ball park? It's a shame that the Rhode Island State Illegal Immigration law failed because of a few Democraps. It would have helped a lot in problems like this. As for the Bishop, I will pray for him.
6302609 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Aug 23 at 8:54 AM Marge Wood, Atlanta, GA wrote ...
"What would Jesus do"..Well Jesus would tell the good Bishop to examine his conscience and stop enabling sinful behavior. The good bishop forgets The Ten Commandments. It is a sin to steal, cheat and lie. A reasonable Catholic with a conscience would tell his illegal alien faithful to "sin no more", return to your country and repent. Pay back what you have stolen from the American taxpayer. These radical outspoken bishops like Tobin and Mahoney are infuriating us mainstream Catholics and driving
6276239 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Aug 22 at 9:25 PM Greg wrote ...
If I was the gov i would first call that ice to check out that soup company who just had the recall of soups. Then I would have the state police start pulling everyone of thease cars they drive for traffic vilolations and see if they have licenes and or insurance and or registrations. If they don't well full back ground check.
6270492 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Aug 22 at 6:10 PM Ed wrote ...
Any tax exempt organization that uses its tax expempt resources to influence the government process, should loose it's tax exempt status. The catholic church wants the government out of the church - then the church should stay out of government business and stop throwing stones when standing on the porch of a glass house.
6266874 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Aug 22 at 2:48 PM Chuck Vierling, North Providence wrote ...
How dare the Catholic Church, or any church, support and advocate the breaking of any legitimate ordinance. And to suggest that authorized ICE agents be asked not to enforce the law on Church grounds grounds smacks of unconstitutional to me. Bishop Tobin should guard his own house first.
6261224 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Aug 22 at 1:36 PM Bill from Fall River wrote ...
Hmmm.. I smell a seperation of church and state here. All respect to the Bishop, but sir, you should not encourage people to break the law. The word Illegal states it all. The Gov. is doing the right thing. Now, lets get the rest of the country doing the same.
6258969 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Aug 22 at 11:39 AM Susan Jacobs - Providence wrote ...
Bishop Tobin needs to keep an eye on his priests and not encourage people to break the law. Low attendance in his churches is the result of Catholic arrogance and child molestation, not fearful illegal immigrants. Why doesn't he criticize the corrupt governments who run the countries these people are trying to escape? The lies need to stop.
6255159 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Aug 22 at 11:34 AM Robert Williams - Pawtucket wrote ...
Bishop Tobin has a bizarre idea that illegal immigrants are too afraid of ICE to leave their subsidized apartments to come to his church. Some of them might be Catholic but none of them are covering in fear of anything. How much "fear" are the illegals are really experiencing as they drive 40 mph on Rt. 95 and blast their stereo while smoking Blunts at Lincoln Woods. Not all illegals are Hispanic and there is a huge difference between a legal immigrant who work and obey laws and the illegals.
6255014 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Add a comment
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