The Bible tells us to obey laws. Yes, but that's not all the Bible says.

Over and over, the Hebrew Scriptures told us to take care of "strangers," the outsiders who do not own property or have a voice in writing laws (Leviticus 19:33). Jesus said that when we visit a Christian in prison, we are visiting Jesus himself (Matthew 25:36); the prisoner might really have broken some laws, but we are supposed to be comforters, not judges.

When the officers of "La Migra" find an undocumented person, they naturally follow the orders they have received. But in many known cases, workers have been deported from a workplace without a chance to call home, and they may be "missing" for weeks before the terrified family knows where they are. Parents have been taken from little children, who are traumatized because they have no way to understand why they are abandoned.

Something is overlooked in those cases: La Migra's laws allow for exceptions. Even an undocumented foreigner can request an exception on humanitarian grounds. Exceptions are likely to be granted when a parent has a spouse and children who are U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, a person who is on a bus to Tijuana is not able to contact the authorities who can grant a humanitarian visa.

After thoughtful discussion in open meetings, the congregation of the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley has decided to take on what we feel is a Christian responsibility. We will offer shelter to a deserving person or family who is following the legal process of seeking a visa. The individuals we will help have good work records, U.S. citizen children and no record of criminal actions. True, the immigration laws have been broken, but a strict punishment, strictly enforced, would break up a family. The punishment would be far out of proportion to the crime.

To those who say, "Throw the felons out," we could answer, "Do justice, love mercy" (Micah 6:8). The IRS works out deals with those who cannot pay their taxes; any criminal can seek a pardon from the governor. Let us be at least as merciful to working parents who want their children to grow up Americans.

— John Paton, of Granada Hills, is chairman of the Board of Deacons.