Religious leaders battle Alabama immigration law

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) Alabama religious leaders have filed statements
in federal court expressing their concern that a new immigration law
would interfere with the practice of their religion and Christian
mandates to minister to all people.

Bishops in the Episcopal, United Methodist and Roman Catholic
churches and 17 other church ministry leaders on Wednesday (Aug. 17)
filed affidavits in the federal court lawsuits that seek to block
enforcement of the new law.

Their lawsuit was consolidated with those filed by the U.S. Justice
Department and Hispanic advocacy groups that also sought to void the new
state law.