United Methodist Church uses sign near Capitol to call out Trump immigration policy

The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is trolling the Trump administration with the sign outside their headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The social justice arm of the United Methodist Church, whose building is located near the Capitol, used an altered Bible verse to criticize President Trump’s policy of separating migrant children from parents who have illegally crossed the border.

The sign references Matthew 25:35, which reads, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

“I was a stranger and you ripped my child from me. Wait a second…” the sign reads.

#KeepFamiliesTogether @TheJusticeDept pic.twitter.com/QOXkStPW9B

— Church & Society UMC (@umcjustice) June 15, 2018

Members of the Methodist denomination have been outspoken in criticizing the “zero tolerance” enforcement. The policy, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in April, calls for immigration officials to criminally prosecute all illegal border crossers, resulting in thousands of children being separated from their parents and detained.

{mosads}Sessions made waves in the religious community last week after he invoked the Bible to defend the policy.

“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order,” Sessions said while speaking in Indiana. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful.”

Following his comments, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society called on Sessions, who is Methodist, to reverse the policy.

“The Christ we follow would have no part in ripping children from their mothers’ arms or shunning those fleeing violence,” the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe wrote in a statement. “It is unimaginable that faith leaders even have to say that these policies are antithetical to the teachings of Christ.”

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Catholic archbishop of New York, also tore into Sessions for using the Bible to defend the policy, saying there is no Bible verse that could “justify” family separation.