Churches split on immigration reforms

WASHINGTON, April 27 (UPI) -- A survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life in Washington showed that Christians were conflicted over immigration reforms.

The survey said 64 percent of white evangelicals and 56 percent of white Catholics said immigrants are a burden on the country -- taking jobs, housing and health care -- USA Today reported.

However, Luis Lugo, director of the forum, said Christians supported providing aid for immigrants.

"There is in all of these religious traditions strong emphasis on care of the immigrant," he said.

Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention said Baptists would support a guest-worker program and a legalization process that includes penalties, but only if the federal government first "commits the resources necessary to control and secure our borders."

Roman Catholic clergy have taken on the cause of the immigrant as a moral mission, vowing to disobey a House-passed bill that would make it a crime to feed, clothe or otherwise aid an undocumented person.

The Southern Baptist Convention, which counts ethnic minorities as 20 percent of its membership, may not want to alienate immigrants who share its values of family, traditional gender roles and hard work, USA Today reported.