Letter: SouthCoast faith leaders deeply troubled by Sheriff Hodgson’s action

Letter: SouthCoast faith leaders deeply troubled by Sheriff Hodgson’s action


Posted Feb 7, 2020



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We the undersigned faith leaders of the South Coast region are deeply troubled over the recent revelation (uncovered via the regulations of the Freedom of Information Act) of emails written by Sheriff Thomas Hodgson (sheriff of Bristol County) in 2017 to the White House suggesting that his church is providing illicit information about immigrant rights.

As reported by the New Bedford Standard-Times on December 6, 2019, Sheriff Hodgson saw pamphlets placed at the back of his church, St. Julie Billiart Parish in Dartmouth helping readers to “Know Your Rights” when approached by immigrant officials.

We are outraged that Sheriff Hodgson, in his correspondence with White House advisor Stephen Miller, implies that his parish, and perhaps other places of worship, are engaged in seditious behavior by keeping people informed of their legal rights before the law.

Sheriff Hodgson is quoted as “trying to determine if this is an isolated situation or a common occurrence in other parish churches.”

This action is troubling for many reasons. The first is the suggestion that church officials or religious leaders of any faith are doing something illegal that warrants suspicion and possible surveillance when ministering to their congregation. As faith leaders we have seen all too often, throughout history, the end result of suspicion and surveillance on people of faith. We cannot accept government intervention in lawful faith-related activities.

Advising members of a congregation on their rights and obligations before the law is completely legal. As faith leaders we also remember that our sacred texts encourage us to give shelter to those fleeing persecution, disasters and famine. We are to nurture the sick, the indigent, the homeless, the poor, the wayfarer, the imprisoned, and to give succor to those who ask for forgiveness and pardon.

While we do not encourage illegal behavior, leaders and adherents of all faiths hold our places of worship sacrosanct. If the belief of the congregation so dictates, our houses of worship can also be sanctuaries for those in need.

We pray for peace, stability and prosperity in places from which people flee throughout the world. We are full of gratitude and admiration for those congregations which offer hospitality, accommodation and tolerance for those who are fleeing real danger and persecution. We pray God’s guidance and mercy will prevail in our nation and in all places of persecution and displacement.

We, the following South Coast spiritual leaders, maintain vigorously the inviolability of our houses of worship.

We declare “our right to be safe in our faith.”

Blessings for peace, safety and justice for all on earth.

Fr. Richard Roy, St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church, North Dartmouth; The Rev. Susan H. Lee, Ph. D., Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Fall River; Rabbi Raphael Kanter, Tifereth Israel, New Bedford; Rev. David Lupo, ss.cc., St. Mary Catholic Church, Fairhaven;

Rev. Dr. Daniel Rivera, Spanish Church of God, New Bedford; The Rev. Dr. Leslie Stewart Simonson, Interim Minister, First Baptist Church, Fall River; Sr. Marianna Sylvester, RSM, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, New Bedford; The Rev. MaryAnn Purtill, First Congregational Church, Marion;

The Rev. James Hornsby, Rector Emeritus, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Fall River; The Very Rev. Thomas Washburn, Pastor and Rector, Catholic Community of Central Fall River; Rabbi Mark Elber, Temple Beth El, Fall River; The Rev. Christopher Morck, Rector, Grace Episcopal Church, New Bedford;

Martin Bentz, Outreach Coordinator, Islamic Society of Southeastern MA, South Dartmouth; The Rev. M Lise Hildebrandt, Interim Priest, Church of the Holy Spirit, Fall River; The Rev. Dr. Virginia H. Child, Interim Pastor, First Congregational Church UCC, Wareham, MA; The Rev. Jordinn Nelson-Long, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven;

Mrs. Deborah Zane, Pastoral Associate, Catholic Community of Central Fall River; Cantor Nathaniel Schudrich, Tifereth Israel, New Bedford; The Rev. Arrington Chambliss, Executive Director of Episcopal City Mission, Boston; The Rev. Ron Tibbets, Engagement Coordinator of Episcopal City Mission, Boston; The Rev. Michael Melendez, Deacon for Episcopal City Mission, Boston