Interfaith Violence Prevention Coalition of Stark County
We, the undersigned members and supporters of the Interfaith Violence Prevention Coalition of Stark County, stand in opposition to the present position of our government’s rush to a blanket deportation policy. The Holy Scriptures of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths are profoundly compassionate toward the widow, orphan and stranger in our midst. Guided by this principle, we declare the current policy immoral, unjust and irreligious according to the Holy Scriptures and our shared religious teachings.
Because we are taught that our God is merciful, just and compassionate to all, especially the poor and marginalized, so must we, as people of faith, model these values in our public lives.
Read the Canton Repository story - Stark County faith leaders pen letter objecting to mass deportations
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We pray God’s will be done and acted upon by those who set such policies and those who carry them out. Our Signees:
Fr. Ed Keck, Chaplain,
Pax Christi of Stark County
Rabbi John Spitzer, Rabbi Emeritus,
Temple Israel
Imam Jaffar Juma
Deacon Alfredo Aguirre,
Parish Pastoral Associate, St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Julie Aronson
John Baker, Retired IT Specialist
Karen Baker,
Member, Pax Christi of Stark County and Church of the Holy Trinity (Zoar)
Mimi Bogard,
Member, Pax Christi of Stark County
(Most Rev.) John Michael Botean,
Bishop, Romanian Catholic Diocese
Frank J. Bove,
Member, Pax Christi of Stark County
Laurence Bove,
Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Walsh University
Rev. Lynn Bozich Stetzer,
PCUSA, Retired
Dawn Brogan,
Member, Pax Christi of Stark County
Carol Canavan Carolyn Capuano,
HM, vowed member,
Sisters of the Humility of Mary
David and Christine Carnell,
Members, Trinity United Church of Christ, Canton
J. Dean Carro
Susan Cihon
Pattie Condello,
Parish Pastoral Associate, St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Jeannie DeFazio,
Retired Educator, Chair/ Professor, Walsh University
Rev. Thomas L. Douce,
Retired United Methodist Clergy of the East Ohio Conference UMC
Lynne Dragomier,
Member, Pax Christi of Stark County and Christ the Servant Parish
Mary Faigley, Secretary,
Pax Christi of Stark County and Member, Christ the Servant Parish
Patrice Fetzer,
LISW-S, Member, Christ the Servant Parish
Monsignor Lewis F. Gaetano,
Pastor Emeritus, Christ the Servant Catholic Parish
Rev. Anissa Glaser-Bacon,
New Vision UCC
Rev. Benjamin D. George,
Co-Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church
Teresa Golden-McClelland,
Member, Christ the Servant Parish
Allie Harpster,
Member, Saint Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church
Cristina Hernandez,
Diocesan Hispanic Minister, Diocese of Youngstown
Greg Hofacre,
Member, Christ the Servant Parish and Pax Christi of Stark County
Cynthia Hofacre,
Member, Christ the Servant Parish and Pax Christi of Stark County
Deacon Lyn Houze,
Church of the Holy Trinity (Zoar)
Betty Jaroneski,
Member, Christ the Servant Parish and Pax Christi of Stark County
Vickie Kappes
Rabbi David Komerofsky,
Rabbi, Temple Israel
Deborah Kotte,
Commissioned Lay Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Canton
Redda Latona,
Member, St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Deacon Ed Laubacher,
Saint Paul Parish, North Canton
Wendy Lichtenwalter,
Member, Reedurban Presbyterian Church
Sr. Karen Lindenberger,
OSF, Hispanic Ministry Coordinator, St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Hector McDaniel,
Executive Director, Stark County Social Justice Consortium
Cindy Mease
Kathy Meese,
Member, Christ the Servant Catholic Parish and Pax Christi of Stark County
Jim and Cathy Naegeli,
Members, Christ the Servant Parish
Ralph Norton,
Member, Christ the Servant Parish and Pax Christi of Stark County
Rosemary Norton,
Member, Christ the Servant Parish and Pax Christi of Stark County
Dan O’Brien
Janet Moon O’Brien,
Yoga Teacher
Carl E. Pace,
Senor Pastor, Zion United Church of Christ
Very Rev. Kevin Peters,
VF, Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Maryann Picard
Sr. Maureen Piersol,
HM (Sisters of the Humility of Mary)
Rob Pierson Richard Ross,
Parishioner, St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Susan Ross, Parishioner,
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Brett and Francesca Savage
Cindy and Steve Savage
Elise Schafer, Member,
Christ the Servant Parish
Rev. Frederick “Fritz” Schlueter,
Parochial Vicar, St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Martha Schultze,
Junior Warden, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Dr. John Schuster,
Access Health, Stark County
H. Paul Schwitzgebel,
Retired United Church of Christ Minister
Richard D. Senften,
Member, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church
Maude Slagle,
Concerned Citizen
Barb Spera,
President of Temple Israel Canton
John Spera,
Past President of Temple Israel Canton
Janet Stewart,
Member, Pax Christi of Stark County and Christ the Servant Parish
Dan Suvak,
Retired, Walsh University, Parishioners, Christ the Servant Parish
Jerry Szostek,
Member, Church of the Holy Trinity (Zoar)
Dan and Colleen Toussant,
Members, Pax Christi of Stark County and Christ the Servant Parish
Rev. Michael J Wallace,
Co-Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Robin R. Woodberry,
Priest-in-Charge, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church