Apr 5, 2006 12:24 pm US/Central
Priests Plan Immigration Bill Hunger Strike
Hunger Strike Would Last Until April 14
BATAVIA, Ill. (STNG) ―
Priests from the Chicago and Rockford dioceses say they will begin a hunger strike at House Speaker Dennis Hastert's downtown Batavia office today in support of a federal immigration bill.
Larry Dowling, pastor of Chicago's St. Denis Church, said he will be joined by three dozen members of Priests for Justice, including some from Aurora. A handful of priests will not eat until Hastert agrees to meet with them and accept 150,000 postcards in favor of the McCain/Kennedy legislation that supports a gradual path to citizenship for immigrants who work in the United States.
Dowling said the cards were gathered from parishioners all over the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The hunger strike would last until 3 p.m. April 14 — Good Friday — if necessary, Dowling said. According to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, priests and allies will keep continuous watch until Hastert schedules a meeting.
The hunger strike may not last long. Reached late Tuesday, a spokesman for Hastert's office was not aware of the hunger strike but said the office would be glad to accept cards from the any residents living in Hastert's 14th Congressional District.
Hahn said Hastert takes immigration issues seriously and that the priests are "delivering a message we hear loud and clear."
The hunger strike is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. today outside Hastert's office at 27 N. River St., Batavia.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
