Religious Organizations Call on U.S. to Take in 100,000 Syrian Refugees

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Sep 10, 2015

Religious Organizations Call on U.S. to Take in 100,000 Syrian Refugees

Religious organizations are calling on the United States to take in 100,000 Syrian refugees who have been displaced from their homes. Charisma News reports Church World Service, an organization that represents 37 denominations, is calling on the government to respond to the refugee crisis, along with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Luteran Immigration and Refugee Service and the Jewish agency HIAS. 

Four million Syrian refugees have fled their homes. So far, the United States has taken in 1,500 refugees, and is planning to accept 300 more by October. Still, the United States fall far behind European countries, including Germany, who accepted 20,000 refugees over the weekend and is prepping for 800,000 more this year. 

Jen Smyers, of Church World Service said, "We've been disappointed at the current status of U.S. leadership. I think we have seen some nodding of heads and people recognizing that something needs to be done, but we're still waiting to see what that is." 

A petition urging the U.S. government to take in more refugees has gathered over 1,550 signatures. Signers argue that the current regulations for taking in refugees are too strict. The rules are in place to keep terrorists from entering the country, but thousands of innocent people in need have been prevented from seeking refuge as well. 

Publication date: September 10, 2015



Religious Organizations Call on U.S. to Take in 100,000 Syrian Refugees