Citizens question congregation members on the law.

It is official, Liliana is now at the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley. Liliana, who was told in May she was about to be deported, moved from an Episcopal church in Long Beach to a home that is owned by the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley and was once used as a parsonage on the churches grounds. She's 29 years old, was born in the state of Michoacan and was caught trying to cross the border from Tijuana to San Diego about nine years ago. She said she earlier applied for a student visa but was turned down. After being caught, she crossed the border in a different place and came to Oxnard. Liliana, who won't reveal her last name for fear of repercussions to her family, is one of four illegal immigrants in a swath of Southern California living in faith communities through the national New Sanctuary Movement.

Ongoing every Sunday, street rally pro-USA citizenship and anti-illegal alien sidewalk event. 9 am till 12:30 pm at  United Church of Christ  at 370 Royal Ave. Simi Valley, CA 93065. See you there every Sunday!

Unhappy with reporting on Liliana and UCC-- One doesn't need to be a murderer or a bank robber to qualify as a criminal. Journalists, above all, have an obligation to be impartial and to report the facts as accurately as possible. It is quite obvious that Ms. Principe has let her personal feelings interfere with her journalistic judgment as well as her perception of right and wrong. Liliana is portrayed as a saintly, caring mother ("I am here to fight for my children!") and the authorities are played up to be the villains ("This made her a target of immigration officials. . . ."). Did this last excerpt evoke a mental picture of immigration officials drawing their weapons against poor, defenseless Liliana and little Pablito, as it did for me? Equally shameful is the Rev. June C. Goudey and the Simi Valley United Church of Christ. Rev. June is guilty of doublespeak when she says criminals should be deported, but then says, "Liliana's only crime was using forged documents to enter the country." Huh? How can one participate in crime, yet not be considered a criminal, Ms. Goudey? The Rev. June is equally guilty of hypocrisy as her personal viewpoint on obedience to governmental law clearly deviates from the Holy Scriptures her church utilizes. Ms. Goudey should refresh herself on Romans 13, verses 1 through 5, where Paul is admonishing the followers to submit to earthly governing authorities. Maybe then it will dawn on her that her personal feelings on Liliana's situation are about 180 degrees off from God's word. Has Rev. June also blinded herself to the fact that Liliana has broken CLUE's precept No. 4- sanctuary candidates must have good moral standing- when she forged documents to gain access into this country? Do moral people produce counterfeit documents for the purpose of deceiving others for purely selfish motives? They do not. People who defend or provide aid and comfort to Liliana haven't a moral leg to stand on. They are guilty of contributing to the collapse of this great nation, because they champion the cause of the lawless, and they seek to provide the tools for these criminals to circumvent justice. Mark Buchler Simi Valley....++++