By Rachel Zoll
November 21, 2015

In rare agreement across faith and ideological lines, leaders of major American religious groups have condemned proposed bans on Syrian refugees, contending a legitimate debate over security has been overtaken by irrational fear and prejudice.

Top organizations representing evangelicals, Roman Catholics, Jews and liberal Protestants say close vetting of asylum seekers is a critical part of forming policy on refugees. But these religious leaders say such concerns, heightened after the Paris attacks a week ago, do not warrant blocking those fleeing violence in the Middle East.

“The problem is not the Syrian refugees,” said Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, who noted how his state has welcomed a large number of Cuban refugees over the years. “This is falling into the trap of what the terrorists wanted us to become. We shouldn’t allow them to change who we are as a people.”

…

The Orthodox Union said “we encourage a sensible process of reviewing and enhancing security,” with the goal of “getting to yes” on admitting asylum seekers. But the group said, “Neither partisan politics nor xenophobia can have a place in that debate.”

Click here to read the full article on the Associated Press/AP.