In June, I blogged about an Iranian kurdish woman, Naze Aghayi, who had been granted sanctuary by a congregation in Turku. Today (10.7.07), the Rev. Alexia Salvatierra from Los Angeles wrote on the blog God's Politics, saying that Sanctuary Breaks An Unjust Law. Excerpts:
Sanctuary is an act of compassion, an expression of mercy. It is, however, not mercy at the expense of justice. Participants in the new sanctuary movement believe that our current immigration system is profoundly unjust — so unjust that we believe that we are facing one of those unique moments throughout history where divine law and human law are in conflict and God’s justice demands that we stand with those who break unjust laws even at the risk of sharing their punishment. Sanctuary is not only about mercy; it is also about justice. [...]
To offer sanctuary is to recognize that the strangers in our midst are blessing us, in clear and mysterious ways. May we respond with the hospitality that we have received.
