At Meeting with Attention to Business this day, Downingtown Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends minutes their support of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s recent corporate witness undertaken to block federal immigration enforcement officials from entering houses of worship for immigration enforcement activities. This step was taken to ensure Quaker values are maintained as we support vulnerable community members. We hold in the Light those individuals impacted by this new policy as well as those who are actively moving this lawsuit forward on behalf of long held Quaker principles of peace, equality, and social justice.
From the earliest time of the creation of Pennsylvania, religious liberty has been a hallmark of the colony, the state and by extension, the nation. Article 1 Section 3 of the Pennsylvania Constitution reflects this basic belief, to wit: “no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience.”
Downingtown Meeting is grateful for the swift response of the General Secretary, Clerks and committee members who acted with purpose and clarity in making this happen. Houses of worship are sacred spaces. We hope the Courts will declare unconstitutional any policy permitting government agents to carry out immigration enforcement at houses of worship and that they will vacate the 2025 Policy, and enjoin DHS and its constituent agencies from implementing or enforcing the policy.
