Helping White Refugees Violates the Doctrine of their Faith

… help white refugees, I will admit I thought the headlines were clickbait and over blown. However, then I went to read the actual announcement and press release from the Church…. It’s true.

The Episcopal Church has announced, publicly, they were contacted by the federal government as part of an ongoing contract for refugee resettlement, to assist in the transition of white Afrikaner farmers who are fleeing racial violence and given refugee status by the Trump administration.

Specifically, because of the color of their skin, the Episcopal Church is now saying, “in light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice … we are not able to take this step.”

The Church notes their business model using refugee settlement payments from the United States Government has been disrupted by the Trump administration’s pause on funding, and as a result of their no longer getting paid – in combination with the racial profile of the refugees they are now being asked to assist, they will shut down all refugee settlement efforts. It is a stunning statement:

The Episcopal Church
– […] “Since January, the previously bipartisan U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in which we participate has essentially shut down. Virtually no new refugees have arrived, hundreds of staff in resettlement agencies around the country have been laid off, and funding for resettling refugees who have already arrived has been uncertain. Then, just over two weeks ago, the federal government informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that under the terms of our federal grant, we are expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa whom the U.S. government has classified as refugees.

In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step. Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.” ~ Rev. Sean W. Rowe, Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church
Letter from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Episcopal Migration Ministries

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