Concord, New Hampshire — An Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire is attracting national attention after he warned his clergy to finalize their wills and affairs in order to prepare for a “new era of martyrdom.”
Bishop Rob Hirschfield, of the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire, made his comments earlier this month at a vigil honoring Rene Judd, who was Deadly shot On January 7, she was put behind the wheel of her car by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The Trump administration defended the ICE officer’s actions, saying he fired the gun In self-defense While standing in front of Jude’s car As he began to move forward. This interpretation has been criticized by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Governor of Minnesota. Tim Walls And others Based on the videos From confrontation.
Hirschfeld’s letter cited several historical clergy who risked their lives to protect others, including New Hampshire seminary student Jonathan Daniels, who was shot and killed by an Alabama sheriff’s deputy while protecting a young black civil rights activist in 1965.
“I told the clergy in the Diocese of New Hampshire that we might be entering into the same witness,” Hirschfeld said. “And I have asked them to put their affairs in order, and to make sure that their wills are written, because perhaps now is no longer the time to make statements, but rather the time for us, with our bodies, to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”
Hirschfeld did not call for violence, but instead said that Christian believers should not fear death.
“Those of us who are ready to build a new world must also be ready,” he said. “If we truly want to live without fear, we cannot be afraid even of death itself, my friends.”
Other religious leaders also called on Christians to protect vulnerable groups amid an uptick in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, including the Rev. Sean W. Rowe, archbishop of the Episcopal Church.
“We continue to resist, to advocate, to bear witness, to mend the breach,” Rowe said during a prayer service earlier this week. “We continue to shelter and care for migrants and refugees because they are loved by God, and without them, we cannot fully be the Church.”
In Minnesota, Rt. Pastor Craig Loya urged people not to meet “hate with hate” but instead focus on love in “a world that is clearly not okay.”
“We will act like our ancient ancestors and turn the world upside down by mobilizing for love,” he said. “We will disrupt the hope of Jesus. We will be moved by the love of Jesus.”