Opinion: Religious leaders across Connecticut speak to ICE

To all of the agents and employees of ICE:

We represent a broad coalition of religious leaders of various faith traditions. This is a letter written in love; it is a letter written out of concern for you. It is a letter written out of concern for all of us.

We have seen your helmets and your masks. We have seen your mirrored sunglasses and the body armor you use to conceal any identifiable human feature of your bodies.

So too, we have seen your weapons, sometimes pointed at us, and at those we care about. We have observed the terror you have brought to the communities we serve, and indeed, the terror you have sown in communities all across the country. We have observed the tactics you have used to disappear mothers and fathers into a system of labyrinthine prisons and camps. We have seen what you have done to children. We have observed the cruelty you have visited upon ordinary U.S. citizens who dare to speak out or to criticize you.

Most chilling of all, we have observed the execution of individuals who have defied you.

And we wonder: Who are you who hide behind those masks? What life experiences have brought you to a place where you are willing to inflict this kind of trauma and pain on other people, to visit terror upon your neighbors?

And we wonder about the sort of pain you must carry as a result of what you are now being asked to do.

As religious leaders, we have worked with victims of trauma and also with those who have inflicted it, the abused and the abuser alike. And we have learned that the one who inflicts pain is usually in pain. So too we have learned that no one walks away unscathed after inflicting harm upon another.

We know that you were made for more than this. Your lives are worth far more than the degradation to which you now submit.

We are now entering a season of repentance and renewal among several religious traditions. This week, Muslims begin fasting for Ramadan. Christians have marked Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, walking a sacred path to Easter. Jews have entered the month of Adar, during which Purim takes place, celebrating the overturning of evil decrees. Soon Passover will be here, the festival of freedom.

Each of these religious traditions urges its adherents to reflect on where they are headed, to return to God, to each other, to their best selves. And they all affirm the need and the opportunity for all human beings to correct course and amend our ways, knowing that we all can fall short of the dignity and humanity that we have been
granted.

Now is the time for turning. Now is the time for returning. It is not too late. We ask you to lay down your arms. We invite you to open your arms to the love you were meant to have, to the love you were meant to be.

With a commitment to our shared humanity…

Rev. Alison Hager, West Avon Congregational Church; Nancy Janiszewski, Spiritual Director; Rev. Christopher Solimene, Avon Congregational Church, all in Avon; Sister Mary Jude, Sister of Charity, Baltic; Ali A. Antar, PhD, Islamic Association of Greater Hartford; Reza Mansoor, MD president, Muslim Coalition of Connecticut, all in Berlin; Rabbi Debra Cantor, Neshama Center for Lifelong Learning, Mary Espinosa, Spiritual Director, Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, First Church in Windsor, UCC, Rev. Shawn R. Fisher, Bloomfield Congregational Church, Sister Carmela Garofalo, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Rev. Donna K Manocchio, United Church of Christ, Rev. David Roones, Bloomfield Congregational Church, Bishop Peter A. Rosazza, Roman Catholic, The Rev. Dr. Nancy Wright, ELCA, all in Bloomfield; and Rev. Margret Hofmeister, Southern New England Conference, UCC, and Rev. Rachel P. Mastin, PC(USA), both Branford; and Rev. Kurt Saenger-Heyl, Trinity Lutheran Church, Centerbrook; Rev. Dr. Eileen Sypher, Chester; and Rev. Ernest Harris, UCC, Rev. Lauren Ostrout, Colchester Federated Church, both Colchester; Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers, Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Collinsville; Reverend C. Johnson, Diamond Hill United Methodist Church, Cos Cob; Rev. Dr. Susan Prichard, United Church of Christ, Coventry; Rev. Dr. Ralph Ahlberg, First Church of Christ (UCC) Redding, Cromwell; Rev. Richard Cudmore, chaplain, Covenant Living, Cromwell; Rev. Paul Bryant-Smith, King Street United Church of Christ, Danbury and
Rev. Sierra-Marie Gerfao, The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury and the Connecticut Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Ministry, New Haven/Danbury; Rev. Yana J Cruz-Pagan, The Cornerstone Baptist Church, Danielson; The Rev Rachel Thomas, Clergy, Episcopal Church in CT, Deep River; The Rev. Dr. Pat Kriss, The First Congregational Church of Derby, Derby; Rev. Pamela Rose Vollinger, U. C. C., East Hartford; The Rev. Dr. Greg Gray, Enfield United Church of Christ and
Rev. Kristin L. White, United Methodist Church of Enfield, both Enfield; Rev. Dr. Brian R. Bodt, Woodbury United Methodist Church and Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, Sr. Maryann Calabrese, Provincial, Congregation of Notre Dame, Sr Patricia Ells, Province Concilor, Congregation de Notre Dame, Blessed Sacrament, Inc, The Very Rev. Marcus George Halley,
The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Lee, First Church of Fairfield, Khaleigh Laicher, Director of Regional Youth Ministry in Lower Fairfield County and Elder of Park Avenue Christian Church, NYC, Fairfield County; Fr. John Mulreany, Society of Jesus, all Fairfield.

Also, Rev. Susan Gibson, First Church of Christ, Farmington; The Rev. Heidi Johnston, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Gales Ferry; and Rev Allyson Glass, First Church of Christ Glastonbury, UCC,
The Rev. Jane Hawken, First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC, The Rev. Dr. Paula V. Mehmel, Hampton Congregational Church, Rev. Kate VanDerzee-Glidden, First Church of Christ, Congregational, United Church of Christ, Rev. Dennis P. Moon, Buckingham Congregational, David T. Taylor, First Church of Christ, all Glastonbury; Rev. Dr. Virginia McDaniel, Granby Congregational Church, and Rev. Ellis Miller, Granby Congregational Church, both Granby; Rabbi Jordie Gerson, Greenwich Reform Synagogue, Rev. Dr. Maxwell Grant, Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, Rev. Karen Halac, North Greenwich Congregational Church, Rev. Tim Hamlin, Christ Church, Rev. Dr. Ed Horstmann, Round Hill Community Church, Rev. Suzy Post, Christ Church,
Rev. Lillian Steinmayer, Round Hill Community Church, all Greenwich.

Also, Rev. Douglas L Clark, and Rev. Gini King, First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Guilford; The Rev. Anne Baltzell, Spring Glen Church, Herbert Brockman, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Mishkan Israel, Rev. Paul Fleck, Executive Director, Immigration Law & Justice New York, Cantor Sierra Fox, Congregation Mishkan Israel, Rev Jack Perkins Davidson, Spring Glen Church, Rev. Dr. Maritza I Angulo de Gonzalez, United Church of Christ, Evelyn Santiago, parishioner, Manantial De Gracia, Rev. Myrta Soto, Manantial de Gracia, Ms. Marilin Ortiz , parishioner , Manantial de Gracia, Rabbi Daniel Schaefer, Congregation Mishkan Israel, all Hamden.

And, in Hartford, Sr. Elaine Betoncourt, Sisters Of St.Joseph, Rabbi Donna Berman, Ph.D., Charter Oak Cultural Center, Rev. Dr. Shelley D. Best, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Rev Egan M Bovell, United Methodist Church of Hartford, Rev. Dana L. Campbell, Priest Associate, Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), Rev. Audrey R Chapman, Immanuel Congregational Church, Rev. Dr. Lisa E. Dahill, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, Rev. Canon Harlon L. Dalton, Interim Dean, Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), Rev. Darrell Goodwin, executive conference minister and president, Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ, Claire Heroux, CS/DHS, Consecrated Secular of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, Allison Holst-Grubbe, lay Catholic minister,  Rev. Teran E. Loeppke, Collaborative Center for Justice, Rev. Loyda Morales, The Church of The Good Shepherd, Rev. Jordan Parker, Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Bishop John Selders, Amistad UCC/Moral Monday CT, Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, Trinity Church, Rev. Erica Thompson, Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Rev. Edwin Pérez Jr., Immanuel Congregational Church & Manantial de Gracia, Rev. Nancy Baseel, First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, Rev. Jocelyn Gardner Spencer, Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA), Rev. Darrell Urban, Grace Lutheran Church, Rev. Evelyn Wheeler, Supply  Priest, Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut.

Also Rev. Robert G. Woodward, Gilead Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Hebron
Nancy Peasley Driska, Member St. Paul Parish, Kensington; Rev. Price van der Swaagh, Westbrook Congregational Church, Killingworth; Rev. Patricia Liberty, Ledyard Congregational Church, Ledyard; and Jeanne Altman, First Congregational Church of Madison, Rev. Dr. Heather Arcovitch, North Madison Congregational Church, Rev. Dr. Paul C. Hayes, ABCUSA/Alliance of Baptists, Peter Hawkins, First Congregational Church of Madison (UCC), Christine Mongillo, First Congregational Church, Rev. Craig M. Nowak, Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, Dean Singewald, First Congregation Church of Madison, Kathleen Bidney Singewald, First Congregational Church of Madison, The Rev. Deacon Ronald Steed, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Rev. Vance Taylor, United Church of Christ, Rev. Todd C. Vetter, First Congregational Church of Madison, UCC, Rev. Sarah E. Vetter, First Congregational Church of Madison, UCC, and Rabbi Danny Moss, Temple Beth Tikvah, all Madison; and Rev. Joyce O Crutchfield, Center Congregational Church, UCC, Rev. Taesung Kang, South United Methodist Church, Rev. Josh Pawelek, Unitarian Universalist Society East, all Manchester; and Rev. Dr. Lois K. Happe, UCC, Mansfield.

Also Nancy Burton, president of the Congregation,  Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden,
Rev. Tony Lorenzen, Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden, Rev. Jill Morrison, Director of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, all Meriden; and Rev. Katrina Manzi, Middlebury Congregational Church, Middlebury; Rev. Eva Cudmore, Middlefield Federated Church, Middlefield; and Rev. Dr. Julia Burkey, former senior pastor, First Church of Christ, Congregational, Rev. Dr. Kristen Provost Switzer, South Congregational Church, Middletown; and Phil Brewer, MD, Former Assemblies of God, Rev. Bridget Fidler, First Congregational Church, both Milford; and Rev. Adam Thomas, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Mystic; Rev. Jane Rowe, South Church, and Bishop Rhasheen Brown, Right Now Ministries, both New Britain; and Rev. Dr. Philippe E. C. Andal, Community Baptist Church, Dr. Awet Andemicael, Associate Dean for Marquand Chapel and Lecturer in Theology, Yale Divinity School and Institute of Sacred Music, Paul Bloom, Abbot and Senior Teacher, Kwan Um School of Zen/New Haven Zen Center, Rev. Ally Brundige, Ginger Chapman, Unitarian Society of New Haven, Alison Cunningham, Elm City Zen, Rev. Dr. Luk De Volder, Rector of Trinity Church on the Green, Rev. Sarah B. Drummond, PhD, Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School, Rev. Nathan Empsall, St. PJ’s Episcopal Church, Rev. Andre Cortez Gilford Jr., Interim Pastor, Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church UCC, Rev. William Goettler, Associate Dean for Ministerial and Social Leadership, Yale Divinity School, Pastor Scott Marks, New Growth outreach ministries, Rev. Dr. Gregory Mobley, Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School, Rev. Dr. Allie Perry, Shalom United Church of Christ, Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr., United Church on the Green, Emily Scott, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church New Haven, Rev. Heidi Thorsen, Trinity on the Green, Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, all in New Haven.

Also, Rev. Dr. Pat Nicholas, First Congregational Church, UCC, New Milford; Pastor Richard Reynolds, Simms Memorial Church Of God In Christ, Newington; Rev. Erick Olsen, Pastor, Church of Christ, Congregational (UCC), Norfolk; The Rev. Marilyn B. Kendrix, Spring Glen Congregational United Church of Christ, North Haven; and Rev. Martha Bays, First Congregational Church of Norwalk, Rev. Martine Gloria Bruno, United Congregational Church of Norwalk, The Venerable Donald Burr, Archdeacon, Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Rev. Sal Sapienza, United Church of Rowayton, all Norwalk, and  Rev. Ellen Adams, Deacon, ECCT, Rev Erica Wimber Avena, Park Congregational Church,Rev. David M. Horst, Community Minister, all Norwich; and Rev. Cydney Van Dyke, First Congregational Church of Greenwich, Old Greenwich; and Rev. Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Rev Carleen R Gerber, The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Rev. Dr. Steven R. Jungkeit, The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, John Loughery, First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Rev. Susan Switzer, First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, all Old Lyme; Rev. Jane Willan, Plantsville Congregational, Plantsville; Rev. Oscar Brockmeyer, United Church of Christ, Pomfret Center; Rev. John C. Hall, United Church of Christ, Portland; Rev. Mary Anne Osborn, Priest in Charge, Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland; Michele Bisaillon Leadership, Daughters of the Holy Spirit, Sr Janet Lewis, DHS, Daughters of the Holy Spirit, and Sister Bonnie Morrow, DHS, Daughters of the Holy Spirit, all Putnam; Rev. Emilie Finn, Christ Church Episcopal Parish, Redding; Rev.  Stephanie Johnson, St Paul’s, Riverside; Rev. David Peters, Roxbury Congregational Church, UCC, Roxbury; Rev. Dr. John A. Nelson, The Congregational Church of Salisbury, UCC, Salisbury; Rev. Lucille L. Fritz, Huntington Congregational UCC, Shelton; Rev. Shawn Garan, United Church of Christ Southbury, Rev. Abigail Johnson, St. James Lutheran Church, and Rev. Jeff Lukens, all Southbury; Paul Carr, member of the human family, Islam, Southfield; Rev. Richard Allen, Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, South Glastonbury; Rev. Jeff Braun, The Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, Rev. Melissa Spindler-Smith, Cong. Church in South Glastonbury UCC,and Rev. Katy Wilcox, South Church, UCC, all South Glastonbury; and Sister Cecilia Baronowsky, Sisters of Mercy, Rev. Dr. Ron Brown, First Congregational Church of Southington, Rev. Peg Lewis, American Baptist, and
Rev. Carol A. Bloom, Grace United Methodist Church, all Southington; and Rev. Mark Abernethy, Wapping Community Church, UCC, Rev Christine Boylan, Unity of Greater Hartford, Rev. Nina Barlow Schmid, First Congregational Church of East Windsor, all South Windsor; Rev. Terri Dennehy, Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Stamford, Rev. Shelley C. Donaldson, First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Nestor G., FCC, Rabbi Michael Knopf, Temple Beth El, Rev. Kent Siladi, United Church of Christ, Rabbi Jay TelRav, Temple Sinai, all Stamford; and Rev Diane Seaborn, Storrs Congregation Church UCC, Storrs; The Rev Patricia M Coller, The Episcopal Church, Stratford; Wendy Ruggeri, Music Director, St. Peter’s-Trinity Episcopal Church, Thomaston;
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Gallagher, United Congregational Church of Tolland, United Church of Christ, Tolland; Rev. Carrie Combs, Torrington; Rev F. Lydell Brown, Burning Bush Ministries & Conference of Churches, Hartford & Waterbury; Yaizaimar Puchi, Manantial de Gracia, Waterbury; Rabbi Marc E. Ekstrand, Temple Emanu-El, Waterfordl Rev. Jeanette Cooper Hicks, Westbrook Congregational Church, Westbrook.

And, Sister Barbara Bozak, CSJ, Sisters of St Joseph of Chambery, West Hartford
Father David Cinquegrani, C.P., Passionist Community, Sister Patricia Colla, Sisters of Mercy, Rev. Julie Emery, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Marilyn Greenberg,  Spiritual Director, P’nai Or Congregation, Sister Sally Hodgdon, CSJ, The Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, Sister Ann Kane, CSJ,  Sisters of St. Joseph, Rev. Terry Schmitt, Ph.D., First Church Congregational, UCC, Rev. Jean R. Smith, St. James’ Episcopal, Rev. Dr Jay Terbush, United Church of Christ, Sr. Lorraine Tiani Trustee on the Board of the Collaborative Center for Justice, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Palma Vaccaro, Clerk, Hartford Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers, Rev. Fredd Ward, First Church West Hartford, all West Hartford; Karen Mueller,  Hartford/Tolland Bahá’í community, West Suffield; The Rev. Katy Herron Piazza, Christ Church Easton and Emmanuel Weston, Weston; Deacon Keith Griffin, Christ the King Parish, Wethersfield; Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz, Temple B’nai Israel, Willimantic; Rev. Caroline Hughes, Wilton Congregational, Wilton; and Rev. Thomas Carr, American Baptist Churches, USA, Rev. Dr. Ned Allyn Parker, First Church in Windsor, and Rev. Jon Zappulla, Immanuel United Church of Christ of Harford,  all Windsor; Rev. Maria LaSala, Minister of Word and Sacrament, PCUSA, Woodbridge; Rev. Tuesday Rupp, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Woodbury; and Rev. Dr. Kevin Downer, First Congregational Church of Woodstock, United Church of Christ and Rev. Dr. Susan J. Foster, UCC, both Woodstock;
Rev. Samuel R. Saylor Sr., New England Annual Conference of the A. M.E. Zion Church, New England;  Rev. Mike Gelsomini, United Church of Christ, North Hampton, NH; Rev. Patricia Mitchell, Ballard Vale United Church, Andover, Mass.; Rev. Sherril Willis, Mary Lyon Church, United Church of Christ, Buckland, Mass.; Rev. Lindsey Peterson, South Congregational Church, UCC, Springfield, Mass. and the Rev. Dr. Peter A Wells, United Church of Christ, Springfield, Mass.

Editor’s note: This was shared as a letter to editor and these names were provided at correct by the religious leaders.