Mary and Joseph Bethlehem, NJ (908) 940-1263
PRESS RELEASE Thursday, December 17, 2009  “Bethlehem, and many other New Jersey communities, have sued the state to stop families like ours from living there,” Mary said. “We ask for the Legislature and incoming Governor to ensure that communities have a place for the least among us.” “In many New Jersey towns, Mary and Joseph would definitely not be welcome today – they would just be seen as bringing a poor child into the school system,” Rev. Bruce Davidson, Director of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries, said. “Many carpenters, health care workers, and janitors in our state do not make enough money to afford more than a humble apartment,” Rev. Julia Hamilton, Director of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey, said. “But even when people of faith want to build homes through organizations like Habitat for Humanity, many towns do everything they can to keep people out.” Mary and Joseph prayed with religious leaders, who read parts of the Christmas story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, on the State House steps. Then, in the Christmas tradition of Las Posadas, they walked through Trenton looking for room at the inn. They sought shelter and prayed at the office of Gov.-Elect Chris Christie, where they delivered a letter, and then went to the Department of Community Affairs before being welcomed in by local pastors at the Trenton Crisis Ministry. “During this holy season, it is especially disturbing to hear so much talk about cutting funding for programs that benefit the poor and vulnerable,” Cheryl Mrazik, Associate Director of the Romero Center of St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral in Camden said. “We need to make room for people like Mary and Joseph in our communities, not only at Christmastime, but always.” Read Mary and Joseph's December 15 letter Read Mary and Joseph's letter to Gov.-Elect Chris Christie |