Sanctuary

A Minute on Sanctuary, based on a minute from West Falmouth Monthly Meeting, endorsed by Meeting for Business in 3/85.

We are called through our spiritual experience to reach out in compassion to all persons, to see all persons as equal, and to work to bring justice and truth to all people of the world. We can no longer rest in our privileged place of safety with our hearts and our resources untouched by the needs of refugees fleeing from the cruel, vicious assaults on their lives under conditions of war and despotism in their unhappy lands of Guatemala and El Salvador.

Our Meeting feels called by God to offer sanctuary to Central American refugees and to make a safe place to shelter those who fear death at the hands of their governments.

We choose to give these political refugees not just a measure of safety and hope, but also the opportunity to speak about their lives and experiences, and to soften our hearts and open our eyes to the realities of what is happening in their countries.

We choose to match the unshakable faith of our neighbors, who believe in the basic goodness and decency of the people of the United States, by acting with a sure faith in our ability to help.

It is desirable for religious organizations to form communities of safety, healing, hope, and love to nourish both the bodies and spirits of these our brothers and sisters. The Law directed that the Israelites set aside certain cities of refuge specifically for the purpose of protecting those fleeing the primitive law of blood revenge. This use of holy places in ancient times was the forerunner of a more complete justice among people. The offering of Sanctuary is an act of conscience stemming from our religious principles, which call us to be merciful and just, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Therefore Mt. Toby Friends Meeting affirms:

•That the Mt. Toby Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends endorses the sanctuary movement for Guatemalan and Salvadoran refugees and

•That Mt. Toby Friends Meeting approves of actions taken by any of its members or attenders to provide aid, transportation and comfort to Central American refugees seeking asylum in the United states. We consider such actions to be in behalf of our concerns, and

•That the Meeting welcomes support from individuals or groups in the community in the carrying forward of the sanctuary project, and

•That our decision not be binding on members and attenders of our Meeting whose conscience leads them to a different belief, and

•That we be encouraged to contact elected officials to persuade the United States Government to grant extended voluntary departure status to these refugees. We advocate a peaceful, negotiated settlement of conflicts in Central America, self-determination for its peoples, an end to death squad activities, and cessation of outside military intervention. We claim for our community of Sanctuary its true meaning as a place of God's Shalom, for the working out of peace, for the worship of God in deed as well as word by the community of the faithful.