A Letter from the Bishop of El Salvador

​In a letter dated August 21, The Right Reverend David Alvarado, Bishop of The Episcopal Anglican Church of El Salvador, writes to Bishop Skip Adams to express concern about policies of persecution of the migrant population in the United States.

Bishop Adams shares this letter with people in The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, calling it "a generous and good response showing our common concern regarding racial and societal bigotries."

Read the letter in PDF form here. The text is below:

August 21, 2017

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”. Matthew 5:9

Beloved Brother in Christ our Lord, Bishop Adams,

Greetings in the name of the Episcopal Anglican Church of El Salvador, our best wishes in your Pastoral Ministry and in your family.

The reason for write to you and to your Diocese is to express our concern about the policies of persecution of the migrant population in the U.S.A. Which we qualify as an attitude is completely unjust and inhuman, since migrants are workers looking for decent living conditions for them and their families, with the exception of those who committed criminal acts. We very much regret that in the past few months this population is suffering persecution because of their irregular situation of migration and also by racial issues. An example of this is the closure of the program Conditional Admission to Salvadoran children who looking for enter to this program: Parole Processing for Minors in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala (Central American Minors – CAM).

Just a few days ago we have seen and heard terrible news about riots and violence by the resurgence of racist groups in Charlottesville Virginia, USA. which is making the situation worse, since these racist and criminal groups place greater risk on minority groups such as migrants, especially those who are in an irregular migration situation and, of course, the Afro-descendant population.

Therefore, we sympathize with people who are suffering violence and persecution, in addition, our condolences to people who have suffered from racially or ethnically conditions, as well as our Episcopal Church and the noble people of the United States. We call for ends the violence against people who looking for peace and justice.

As a Church, we are called to “bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives” Isaiah 61:1.

Considering our mission based on the biblical theological mandate, we believe it appropriate to exhort you and the Episcopal Church of the United States to speak out in favor of the weakest and against unjust policies of persecution and xenophobia against migrants. Also, against the emergence and action of racist groups that threaten the life, freedom of the people and against the national stability of the United States.

We raise our prayers for your ministry and for the Welfare of the migrant and homeless population and ask to God to cease racial persecution in the United States and the world. We sympathize with TEC, with the noble people of the USA and with all those who continue to use non-violent means to work against racism and extremism.

Fraternity in Christ, 
The Rt. Rev. David Alvarado
Diocesan Bishop
Episcopal Anglican Church of El Salvador