And on earth peace to people of good will...

Hate mongers are good at delivering vociferous diatribes that rally the like-minded. People of good will are generally less outspoken, less vociferous, and more inclined to quietly proceed.

Our Catholic Bishops have invited us to seek justice for the many undocumented workers and their young children and families who are among us as strangers. It is a very complicated issue, and the Bishop's are by no means encouraging lawlessness or even a disregard of the necessity of law in an ordered and just society. They are asking us to look behind this situation and see that it may demand from us an appeal to a higher justice that has often been the aspiration of these great United States of America.

We have for years been inviting outside workers among us: they slaughter our chickens, maintain our gardens and lawns, cut our broccoli and asparagus, clean our hotel rooms, care for our abandoned elderly in nursing homes, and wash the dishes in our restaurants. For several decades, we have sent them very mixed messages about their value to us. Many of the undocumented young adults now breaking into the workforce were brought here as very young children. They know nothing but their life in the United States. They personally broke no laws, but now they are being treated as criminals and outcasts, and are caught in a horrific human situation not of their own making.

It is time for people of good will to stand up. It is time for people of faith to recognize a higher standard of justice than that of the minutemen and other hate-mongering organizations. It is time for us to clamor against punitive legislation that only causes human agony and does nothing to solve the problem. It is time for legislators to be held accountable for their inaction and their defenseless deference to those with the most cash.

You can act now. Contact the members of the Utah House of Representatives and articulate your stand that people of good will cannot support the Utah Senate Bill SB0251S01 which was sponsored by none other than Chris Buttars of West Valley City. It is a bill that endorses only a punitive response to this complex human problem. It will only bring about more suffering, fear and harm, especially to young families and children. A simple phone message expressing your concern will be a great start.

It is so easy not to say anything. Please - let us stand up and be counted as people who insist on a lawful and humane solution to this problem. You can find contact information at the Utah Legislature web site.

A few years ago the children of the Choir School performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a stirring rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic to celebrate the reopening of the Utah State Capital. There was not a dry eye in the building. What were we singing that caused the tears? His truth is marching on...

America is a great nation.

When did we see you Lord?