[Magdalen] News

[Joseph Cirou]

Thank-you for your witness! Si podeos1

Joe Cirou+
-----Original Message-----
From: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Sent: Feb 4, 2025 7:26 AM
To: Magdalen <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] News

St. Bede’s, Atlanta, is a bicultural parish. We worship in English at 10:00 and in Spanish at 1:30. When +Rob comes, we typically get a bigger turnout at 1:30.

As a member of the vestry, I have the question of how to respond if ICE shows up. If they don’t have a warrant, we don’t have to let them come in, but I’m not at all sure that would keep them out. Since the parking lot is church property, I hope we can have them leave, but with their current activities in Atlanta, I don’t trust that either. Last week ICE raided Plaza Fiesta not far away, and contrary to what Trump et al. have been saying they weren’t just after immigrants with a record.

The rector, Chad, has called the diocese to ask for advice. He was told that an information packet had been sent to clergy, which he received. But then he asked for guidance as to how we as a parish, as a body, as in institution are to respond. He was told “We need to talk about that.”

So at this point, I am prepared to follow my own moral guidance and do whatever I can to protect fellow churchgoers from ICE, including personally blocking their way into the building, risking arrest and prosecution for my actions. I certainly hope it never comes to that. But at the very least, I can be a witness and stand in support of my Hispanic sisters and brothers at St. Bede’s.

I have spoken.

Jim Handsfield
jhandsfield at att.net

“Thou shalt not commit nincompoopery.”
— Carl Sandburg