Grace Cathedral
Article | June 27, 2019
Grace in the News: Responding to Border Detentions
Blog|Brendan Byrne
The Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark-King, our Executive Pastor and Canon for Social Justice, wrote a letter addressed to public officials demanding an end to the detention of children and separation of families at our southern border. All members of the clergy and lay leaders from across religious faiths who are mandated reporters of child abuse are encouraged to sign the letter by adding their name to the list here.
The letter was featured in an article The Episcopal Café. You can read the article in full here and see the letter below.
Dear _,
The horrific spectacle of children being separated from their parents, detained, and held in deplorable conditions is shaming our nation in the eyes of the world and in the eyes of God. This has to stop.
We the undersigned are clergy and lay leaders from across religious faiths who are mandated reporters of child abuse, and thus legally required to report such behavior to the relevant authorities. We would therefore be remiss in our civil as well as our religious duty if we did not draw your attention to this unlawful neglect and abuse of minors in the detention centers on our southern border.
Our humanity is outraged at this treatment carried out by our own country. Let us know what steps you will be taking as a public servant to rectify this immoral state of affairs.