I'd trust Pew before a bunch of cowgirls in Houston. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 12:23:52 PM UTC-6, KeithInTampa wrote: > > > 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] > <javascript:>> 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. 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