“Clergy leading call for humane immigrant laws.”
Jessie Mangaliman.  San Jose Mercury News, 2 April 2006.
In the boiling congressional debate over the future of 12 million undocumented immigrants, a new, critical player has emerged to reshape the arguments and the issue: the nation's churches and religious leaders.

Religious groups, led by the Roman Catholic Church, have joined business, labor and immigrant advocacy groups to galvanize surprisingly widespread support for protecting the rights of undocumented immigrants. Already, their efforts -- punctuated by national rallies, hunger strikes and walkouts -- have undercut an effort to criminalize illegal immigration.

“Religious leaders rally against proposed immigration bill.”

Jessie Mangaliman.  San Jose Mercury News, 14 March 2006.
Dozens of Bay Area religious leaders -- priests, nuns, rabbis, ministers, and Buddhist monks --
gathered on the steps of Mission Church at Santa Clara University this morning to denounce
proposed legislation that they say threatens to turn millions of illegal immigrants into felons.

"There is a hew and a cry from the religious community on this,'' said the Rev. Carol Been, a
Lutheran minister and director of the Interfaith Council on Religion, Race, Economic and Social
Justice.

“Clergy group urges rental-car firms to boost wages.” 

Tracey Kaplan.  San Jose Mercury News, 29 April 2005.
In an effort to cast their cause as a moral crusade, about 100 people from an interfaith group of clergy rallied Thursday night at Mineta San Jose International Airport to urge the city council to require rental-car companies to pay workers at least $10.72 an hour.

“New shepherd to guide the Interfaith Council.”

Robin Evans.  San Jose Mercury News, 17 January 2005.
You'll never hear Don DeLeon saying, ``I don't do windows.''

The man who has shepherded the Santa Clara County Interfaith Council for the past three years -- and is now leaving to possibly pursue post-doctorate work -- is as happy making lunch for a 25-person retreat as setting up meetings between pastors and CEOs over labor issues.

“Moving theater: A ‘Christmas Carol’ takes to the streets.” 

Robin Evans.  San Jose Mercury News, 18 December 2004.
The ghost of Christmas present will walk the streets of San Jose on Tuesday night in a ball gown bearing the images of working people -- the full bottom holding the majority, the lean middle a lesser number and the trim top a rare few.

In a modern twist on Charles Dickens' timeless story of a heartless employer who learns compassion, a coalition of faith and labor leaders is capitalizing on the traditions of Christmas and street theater to link the Christian message of caring for the poor with the issues facing Silicon Valley employers and workers.

“Labor gets message across at churches.”

David L. Beck.  San Jose Mercury News, 6 September 2004.
When Andrew Andaya was baptized Sunday at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in San Jose, the 4-month-old boy had even more going for him than the usual spiritual and temporal blessings. He had the AFL-CIO as well.

In a Labor Day weekend tradition, St. Maria Goretti joined dozens of South Bay churches, temples and synagogues in hearing a message on a social issue. This year: health care.

"A lot of pastors most common complaint is -- people are sick, they can't afford to go to the doctor,'' said Don de Leon of the Santa Clara County Interfaith Council, which coordinates the speakers. It's not a political issue, he said, but a moral and ethical one.

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