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A multi-faith group of nine clergy members were arrested and released shortly thereafter for occupying the U.S. Senator from Maine, Susan Collins’s, local office to urge her to oppose the Republican tax overhaul currently under consideration. Unitarian Universalists noted as part of the arrests were the Rev. Carie Johnsen of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta, the Rev. Christina Sillari of First Parish Church in Portland, and Molly Brewer, ministerial intern at the First Universalist Church in Auburn. (Bangor Daily News – 12.8.17)
More coverage:
“Belfast minister joins clergy for protest at Sen. Susan Collins’ Portland office” (Pen Bay Pilot – 12.7.17)
Developments for sanctuary recipient in Texas and other immigration news
Last week, Alirio Gámez stepped out of the safety of his sanctuary space at First Unitarian Church in Austin, Texas to join faith leaders and members of the Austin Sanctuary Network in a caravan to request a stay of Gámez’s deportation. This is all part of a nationwide sanctuary movement with about 800 churches participating and an estimated 32 congregations housing immigrants at risk of deportation. (Houston Chronicle – 12.5.17)
More coverage:
“Advocates Call On Deportation Halt For Austin Asylum Seeker” (North Austin Patch – 12.5.17)
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs, NY joined other faith groups to show their support for immigrants in their community at a rally supporting the Dream Act last week. “We are motivated by our religious values of loving your neighbor and welcoming a stranger and that’s why we’ve voted to become a sanctuary congregation: to support the new sanctuary movement and to support immigrants in our community,” said the congregation’s minister, the Rev. Joe Cleveland. (WAMC – 12.7.17)
More coverage
“'The immigrant community is so important to Saratoga Springs'” (The Daily Gazette – 12.6.17)