have the right to break the law? Latinos at the church and across the community are shaken does an illegal have the right to break the law he was selling food because he was undocumented and couldn't find a job the church expressed problems with street vendors for over a year, why do many Churches feel illegals should be allowed to break the law ? Is the Church ignoring the laws of America thereby injecting their own laws based on their teaching of the Church supersudes laws on earth and such laws in America ?The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte is looking into why a local priest asked a sheriff's deputy to arrest a man selling food on church property.
Carlos Ramirez, 40, identified as an illegal immigrant via the jail's 287(g) program, is now in the process of being deported after his Nov. 15 arrest on trespassing charges at Our Lady of the Assumption.
Ramirez, an unlicensed street vendor from Mexico, was selling corn-on-the-cob to parishioners of the Shamrock Drive church following a Spanish language mass.
Church officials said the Rev. Philip Scarcella was wrong to ask the deputy to arrest Ramirez without first checking with the diocese.
"A policy wasn't followed here and we really regret that Mr. Ramirez was arrested," said David Hains, spokesman for the diocese. "We regret also that it looks like he's going to be deported."
The incident comes as the national debate over illegal immigration once again heats up. The Catholic church has been a leading voice in the push for immigration reform that would legalize millions of illegal immigrants.
Latinos at the church and across the community are shaken.
"The role of the church is to be ministering to a community that now more than ever needs hope," said Jess George, interim director of the Latin American Coalition. "And it's worrisome when trust may be broken when there isn't enough concern given to the immigrant experience."
Calls to speak with officials at Our Lady of the Assumption church were referred to the diocese.
Hains said that the Shamrock Drive church in East Charlotte has had problems with street vendors for over a year.
Scarcella has been concerned about the safety of the food and traffic problems that arise because of the number of vendors, Hains said.
Vendors had been warned multiple times, including receiving a written notice that they could be arrested.
But Janet Contreras, a member of the church originally from Peru, said the church should have considered that Ramirez was selling food because he was undocumented and couldn't find a job.
"He wasn't outside pointing a gun at people demanding money," said Contreras, who said she is changing churches. "Yes, it's private property, but it's a church."
The Catholic Church has long supported immigrants and helped to lead protests around the country. In 2005, the U.S. Catholic bishops launched the Justice for Immigrants campaign.
Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles wrote last week in a national editorial that the country must pass reform "that better balances our country's need for a stable work force with the orderly flow of immigrants."
Ramirez, who is from Mexico, entered the country legally in June 2008 on a temporary work visa, officials said. He was supposed to return in December 2008.
He is being held at the Mecklenburg County Jail on a $500 state bond and a $5,000 immigration bond.
Julia Rush, spokesperson for the sheriff's department, said Ramirez will be turned over to immigration officials once his state charge is satisfied.
Ramirez told a local reporter for the Spanish-language newspaper Mi Gente that he moved to the United States to help with rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He moved to Charlotte afterward in search of jobs. He became a street vendor after failing to find work in construction or restaurants, according to Patricia Ortiz of Mi Gente.
Ortiz, who met with Ramirez in jail on Tuesday, said Ramirez was almost crying about being deported. He didn't understand why he was arrested for selling food. But, Ortiz said, he says he has forgiven the priest.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/1119341.html
Carlos Ramirez, 40, identified as an illegal immigrant via the jail's 287(g) program, is now in the process of being deported after his Nov. 15 arrest on trespassing charges at Our Lady of the Assumption.
Ramirez, an unlicensed street vendor from Mexico, was selling corn-on-the-cob to parishioners of the Shamrock Drive church following a Spanish language mass.
Church officials said the Rev. Philip Scarcella was wrong to ask the deputy to arrest Ramirez without first checking with the diocese.
"A policy wasn't followed here and we really regret that Mr. Ramirez was arrested," said David Hains, spokesman for the diocese. "We regret also that it looks like he's going to be deported."
The incident comes as the national debate over illegal immigration once again heats up. The Catholic church has been a leading voice in the push for immigration reform that would legalize millions of illegal immigrants.
Latinos at the church and across the community are shaken.
"The role of the church is to be ministering to a community that now more than ever needs hope," said Jess George, interim director of the Latin American Coalition. "And it's worrisome when trust may be broken when there isn't enough concern given to the immigrant experience."
Calls to speak with officials at Our Lady of the Assumption church were referred to the diocese.
Hains said that the Shamrock Drive church in East Charlotte has had problems with street vendors for over a year.
Scarcella has been concerned about the safety of the food and traffic problems that arise because of the number of vendors, Hains said.
Vendors had been warned multiple times, including receiving a written notice that they could be arrested.
But Janet Contreras, a member of the church originally from Peru, said the church should have considered that Ramirez was selling food because he was undocumented and couldn't find a job.
"He wasn't outside pointing a gun at people demanding money," said Contreras, who said she is changing churches. "Yes, it's private property, but it's a church."
The Catholic Church has long supported immigrants and helped to lead protests around the country. In 2005, the U.S. Catholic bishops launched the Justice for Immigrants campaign.
Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles wrote last week in a national editorial that the country must pass reform "that better balances our country's need for a stable work force with the orderly flow of immigrants."
Ramirez, who is from Mexico, entered the country legally in June 2008 on a temporary work visa, officials said. He was supposed to return in December 2008.
He is being held at the Mecklenburg County Jail on a $500 state bond and a $5,000 immigration bond.
Julia Rush, spokesperson for the sheriff's department, said Ramirez will be turned over to immigration officials once his state charge is satisfied.
Ramirez told a local reporter for the Spanish-language newspaper Mi Gente that he moved to the United States to help with rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He moved to Charlotte afterward in search of jobs. He became a street vendor after failing to find work in construction or restaurants, according to Patricia Ortiz of Mi Gente.
Ortiz, who met with Ramirez in jail on Tuesday, said Ramirez was almost crying about being deported. He didn't understand why he was arrested for selling food. But, Ortiz said, he says he has forgiven the priest.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/1119341.html