(RNS) — In a rare comment on current political affairs, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Thursday (Jan. 30) reaffirming its position on immigration, adding to a growing chorus of religious voices challenging President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and policies barring entry to the United States.
The statement, “Church Reaffirms Immigration Principles: Love, Law and Family Unity,” outlined three principles that “guide the Church’s approach” to immigration and appeared in part to offer a theological rebuttal to Trump’s hardline immigration policies.
Beginning with “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints obeys the law,” church officials followed by saying, “We follow Jesus Christ by loving our neighbors,” and “The Savior taught that the meaning of ‘neighbor’ includes all of God’s children.”
The statement continued: “We seek to provide basic food and clothing, as our capacity allows, to those in need, regardless of their immigration status. We are especially concerned about keeping families together.”
Since taking office, Trump has virtually frozen the U.S. refugee program known as USRAP and has rescinded an internal government policy discouraging immigration raids in “sensitive locations,” which include houses of worship. During his campaign for president, Trump promised to carry out the largest number of deportations in U.S. history.
Thursday’s statement is not the first time Trump’s actions have prompted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to depart from its custom of avoiding pointed political commentary. In December 2015, after then-candidate Trump proposed a ban on all Muslims entering the country, the church issued a statement declaring its neutrality in politics but said it is not “neutral in relation to religious freedom.”
The church spoke out again after Trump’s election the following year in regard to an executive order banning refugees from seven Muslim countries. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned about the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of God’s children across the earth, with special concern for those who are fleeing physical violence, war and religious persecution,” read that statement. “The church urges all people and governments to cooperate fully in seeking the best solutions to meet human needs and relieve suffering.”
The church also issued a statement condemning “violence and lawless behavior” after supporters of Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The church’s latest statement adds to a growing list of religious organizations and faith leaders condemning Trump’s immigration policies. On his second day in office, Bishop Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, delivered a sermon in which she pleaded with the president to “have mercy” on people impacted by his policies, including immigrants. The next day, a statement by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, described several of Trump’s executive orders — including his actions regarding refugees — as “deeply troubling” efforts that will “harm the most vulnerable among us.”
The USCCB has also joined other Catholic organizations in condemning the president’s decision to rescind the sensitive locations policy.
Earlier this week, a slate of Jewish organizations and communities, including the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish denomination in the country, signed a letter urging the president not to enact “widespread persecution of immigrants.” And a collection of Quaker groups filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging that rescinding the sensitive locations policy violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and their First Amendment right to freely assemble.
Trump and his supporters have remained defiant. Trump dismissed Budde’s sermon as “nasty in tone,” and Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic, suggested in an interview with CBS that U.S. Catholic bishops are advocating for immigrants and refugees because they are concerned about their “bottom line.”
This story has been updated.
