Resolved, That the Executive Council, meeting in Chicago,
Illinois, November 12-15, 2006
1. strongly opposes the overly broad interpretation of the “material support”
provisions of the Patriot Act, now incorporated into the US Immigration and
Nationality act, which provides the basis for denying bona fide refugees
admission to the United States and otherwise excludes other categories of
immigrants such as asylum seekers and those adjusting status and pursuing
naturalization from the benefits to which they aspire;
2. recommends an interpretation of “material support” which pertains only to
members of formally designated foreign terrorist organizations and not be
applied to those who are not a threat to the security of the United States such
as refugees, asylum seekers, asylees, or those
adjusting to permanent residence or pursuing naturalization;
3. advocates for policies and practices that exempt
those from the “material s support bar” who under duress or the threat of
violence unwittingly or involuntarily associate with a terrorist organization;
4. advocates for policies and practices that exempt
those from the “material support bar” who have been members of groups who have
resisted regimes which victimized or persecuted them or denied them their basic
human rights.
5. urges The Episcopal Church to join with the
Refugee Council USA and other refugee programs to address the issues of the
“material support bar” with the United States
