http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Poll-Nearly-80-percent-of-Americans-say-they-are-2444092.php
On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 1:20 PM, plainolamerican <[email protected]> wrote: > Christians, which is 80 percent of the Nation > --- > delusion noted. > > The number of Americans who identify as Christian has fallen nearly eight > percentage points in only seven years, according to a new survey. Pew > Research Center found that *71%* of Americans identified as Christian in > 2014 - down from *78%* in 2007. > > and of those 71%, only a small fraction are zionists ... sorta like the > small percentage of muzzies who are radical killiers. > > https://www.facebook.com/United.Syrian.Republic/videos/1730600583840768/ > > > On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 10:13:59 AM UTC-6, KeithInTampa wrote: >> >> No doubt, there are some agencies who are Christian based, who are >> advocating for the refugee program to continue. Thankfully, the majority >> of Christians, which is 80 percent of the Nation, are opposed. >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 11:02 AM, plainolamerican <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> I do know that most Christians are opposed to the resettlement of Syrian >>> Refugees in the United States >>> --- >>> Christian groups break with GOP over Syrian refugees >>> >>> Evangelical Christians, as well as Christians more broadly, are a core >>> group in the Republican electoral base and are among the most passionate >>> advocates for aiding refugees. >>> >>> >>> By NAHAL TOOSI <http://www.politico.com/staff/nahal-toosi> >>> >>> 11/17/15 06:24 PM EST >>> >>> >>> Updated 11/18/15 08:43 PM EST >>> [image: Republican presidential candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Mike >>> Huckabee speaks at executive committee luncheon during the California GOP >>> fall convention on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (AP >>> Photo/Chris Carlson)] >>> >>> Mike Huckabee along with other politicians, have worked to gain >>> evangelical support, but may be threatening that by taking a stance against >>> Syrian refugees. | AP Photo >>> >>>> Faith-based groups, who play a key role in resettling refugees to the >>>>>> United States, say they are dismayed by the wave of anti-refugee fervor >>>>>> set >>>>>> off by the Paris terrorist attacks and are urging supporters to contact >>>>>> elected officials on behalf of victims of the Syrian civil war. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Evangelical Christians, as well as Christians more broadly, are a >>>>>> core group in the Republican electoral base and are among the most >>>>>> passionate advocates for aiding refugees. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> A push by Republican presidential candidates to ban Syrian refugees >>>>>> "does not reflect what we've been hearing from our constituencies, which >>>>>> are evangelical churches across the country," said Jenny Yang, vice >>>>>> president for advocacy at World Relief, an evangelical organization that >>>>>> helps resettle refugees. "Most of the people have been saying we want to >>>>>> continue to work with refugees, that what happened in Paris ... doesn’t >>>>>> reflect who refugees are." >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Reports that a Syrian migrant may have played a role in last week's >>>>>> attacks in Paris, which killed around 130 people, have set off a GOP-led >>>>>> backlash over the Obama administration's plans to admit 10,000 Syrian >>>>>> refugees next year. More than half of U.S. governors have said they do >>>>>> not >>>>>> want Syrian refugees resettled in their states, while House Speaker Paul >>>>>> Ryan says he wants a vote this week on GOP-drafted legislation to halt >>>>>> the >>>>>> administration's plans. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> World Relief is one of nine not-for-profit organizations, several of >>>>>> them faith-based, that help resettle up to 70,000 refugees from around >>>>>> the >>>>>> world in the United States each year. Others include the U.S. Conference >>>>>> of >>>>>> Catholic Bishops, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the >>>>>> Church >>>>>> World Service. Many other faith-based groups, including evangelical >>>>>> Christian organizations, also perform aid work overseas specifically >>>>>> aimed >>>>>> at refugees fleeing conflicts. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> 151117_Paul_Ryan_AP_1160.jpg >>>>> >>>>> House likely to vote Thursday on Syrian refugee bill >>>>> >>>>> By JAKE SHERMAN >>>>> >>>>> For Republican presidential contenders such as former Arkansas Gov. >>>>>> Mike Huckabee and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who have been working hard at >>>>>> shoring up evangelical support in a crowded field, harsh words against >>>>>> refugees carries a risk of looking politically opportunistic instead of >>>>>> compassionate. Some advocates were particularly shocked when Republican >>>>>> presidential candidate Chris Christie, New Jersey's governor, said that >>>>>> the >>>>>> U.S. should bar Syrian orphaned toddlers if necessary. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> "That was offensive. That was mean-spirited," said one advocate with >>>>>> a Christian group that resettles refugees. He added: "it’s disappointing >>>>>> because there have been Republican senators and presidents who have >>>>>> strongly supported this program over the years. There’s a proud tradition >>>>>> in the Republican Party of welcoming those who are fleeing persecution, >>>>>> and >>>>>> this takes the party in a negative direction. It’s easy to pick on >>>>>> vulnerable refugees who have no voice. But there are immigrant groups who >>>>>> have voting power that understand what is going on. They understand that >>>>>> it’s an anti-immigrant message." >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Even though many on the Christian right have reservations about >>>>>> immigration overall, and may in particular be unhappy about people who >>>>>> illegally enter the United States, there's long been a recognition that >>>>>> refugees fall under a different category. The 11 million Syrians who have >>>>>> either fled the Arab country or are displaced within it are dodging >>>>>> terrorist groups such as the Islamic State or the barrel bombs of Syrian >>>>>> President Bashar Assad. Many are elderly, widowed or in need of medical >>>>>> care. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Some Republican candidates have suggested that only Syrians who are >>>>>> Christian be allowed on U.S. soil, something President Barack Obama has >>>>>> blasted as shameful. Yang said many evangelical Christians would also >>>>>> oppose such a religious test, especially because many are eager to share >>>>>> their faith with new arrivals. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> The United States so far has admitted roughly 2,100 Syrians since the >>>>>> conflict in the country began in March 2011. To be allowed in, refugees >>>>>> have to undergo the most stringent security checks of any traveler >>>>>> heading >>>>>> to the United States, according to the State Department. Officials from >>>>>> the >>>>>> Obama administration on Tuesday began reaching out to the media and >>>>>> lawmakers in a bid to explain the screening process, which takes an >>>>>> average >>>>>> of 18-24 months. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Meanwhile, faith-based groups have also stepped up their advocacy >>>>>> efforts for refugees. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a >>>>>> statement expressing distress over calls by elected officials to halt the >>>>>> resettlement program. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> 151117_syrian_refugees_AP_1160.jpg >>>>> >>>>> White House pushes back against GOP on refugees >>>>> >>>>> By NAHAL TOOSI >>>>> >>>>> "These refugees are fleeing terror themselves — violence like we have >>>>>> witnessed in Paris," said the statement by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, >>>>>> chairman of the conference's committee on migration. "Instead of using >>>>>> this >>>>>> tragedy to scapegoat all refugees, I call upon our public officials to >>>>>> work >>>>>> together to end the Syrian conflict peacefully so the close to 4 million >>>>>> Syrian refugees can return to their country and rebuild their homes. >>>>>> Until >>>>>> that goal is achieved, we must work with the world community to provide >>>>>> safe haven to vulnerable and deserving refugees who are simply attempting >>>>>> to survive." >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Since the Paris attacks, World Relief has used a website to urge >>>>>> people to contact their governors to express their support for resettling >>>>>> Syrians. The Anti-Defamation League also has spoken out in favor of >>>>>> helping >>>>>> the Syrian refugees, noting that U.S. wariness to accept Jewish refugees >>>>>> during World War II is an example that must not be repeated. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive officer of the ADL and a >>>>>> former Obama aide, stressed that much remains unknown about the Paris >>>>>> attacks, including the exact nature of the allegation that a Syrian >>>>>> migrant >>>>>> was one of the eight or nine attackers. Even if a terrorist posed as a >>>>>> migrant to reach France, it's less likely that the U.S., with oceans to >>>>>> protect it and a stricter screening process, faces the same level of >>>>>> dangers, other advocates said. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> "Republicans and Democrats have to tread very carefully here," >>>>>> Greenblatt said. "Faith-based voters are very attentive to these issues. >>>>>> They’re very sensitive to helping those in need." >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Joanne Kelsey, assistant director for advocacy with Lutheran >>>>>> Immigration and Refugee Service, said she hoped that the sound and fury >>>>>> over refugees would soon be replaced with reason as Republican lawmakers >>>>>> and officials get more details about how the refugee program works. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> "This is a very reactionary time," she said. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> -- >>> -- >>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>> >>> * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ >>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>> >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "PoliticalForum" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- > -- > Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. > For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum > > * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ > * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. > * Read the latest breaking news, and more. > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "PoliticalForum" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
