This ground is holy: Church sanctuary and Central American refugees

by Ephatius Bau

The sanctuary movement of the 1980's has become a confrontation pitting personal religious values against government policy. In defiance of federal law, ordinary American citizens have been opening their homes, churches and synagogues to illegal refugees who claim to be fleeing terror and turmoil in Central America. The Americans who shelter refugees assert they are obliged to do so by religious conviction. Thus far federal authorities have responded by charging them with criminal activity. Besides telling the story of the present confrontation, this book explores many of the questions behind it. Is there a historical basis for "church sanctuary"? Does the notion of sanctuary have any status in American law? Can religious people offer convincing arguments from their traditions? And how well does the U.S. treatment of persons requesting political asylum accord with international agreements protecting refugees?

Paperback

Published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Eredità · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three millennia of historical and theological contexts for sanctuary. A heavy research type of read, but worth the effort.