Senate President Pro Tem Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, said in a recent interview that the top 2008 priority for Pennsylvania is Senate Bill 9. Making its way through the Senate since last spring, SB 9 requires government-issued identification to receive a wide variety of public benefits.

In a state where 1.4 million people live in poverty, where there is a $4.6 billion shortfall in funding for K-12 public education and where nearly 800,000 people don't have health insurance, a bill that would accomplish little or nothing is the top priority?

SB 9's intended targets -- undocumented immigrants -- already are ineligible for all major benefits, and no evidence has been presented to suggest that they have improperly taken advantage of public programs in Pennsylvania. At the Senate State Government Committee's Oct. 17 hearing on SB 9, no one stepped forward with such evidence -- not even one anecdotal example. No statewide organization gave unqualified support for the bill, and almost all those submitting testimony were strongly opposed to it.

This bill would harm tens of thousands of low-income Pennsylvania citizens and legal immigrants who lack government-issued ID or cannot easily get it. A study by New York University's Brennan Center for Justice in November 2006 found that 11 percent of U.S. citizens do not have government ID, including 15 percent of those earning less than $35,000 a year and 25 percent of adult African Americans. These include victims of crime and domestic violence whose IDs have been stolen.

People of faith have always heard a particular call to action to raise our voices on behalf of those in greatest need, including people living in poverty, victims of domestic violence and minorities. We reject "enforcement only" legislation that criminalizes undocumented people and denies fair treatment for farm workers who provide our daily bread. Furthermore, we reject legislation that would deny public benefits to needy individuals, including citizens and legal immigrants.

In setting forth principles for immigration reform, the faith community draws upon the Judeo-Christian tradition and the principle that we should show compassion to newcomers in our midst. (Exodus 23; Matthew 25). These newcomers are integral to our communities and to America's economic, cultural and political fabric. As a nation of immigrants grounded in the rule of law we must be humane and just to newcomers while assuring orderly migration.

As people of faith concerned with immigration reform, we support the rule of law. However, we must also seek to change the law if and when it fails to achieve social justice.

The status quo for undocumented immigrants of exploitation, illegality and human suffering is unacceptable and we can wait no longer for our elected leaders to develop a practical and humane solution that we, as a nation under God, have an obligation to realize. We therefore need to urge all elected officials to change course and to build a national consensus around comprehensive, fair and humane immigration reform that is consistent with this nation's values and our belief that all men, women and families are created equal in the eyes of God.

In-migration is one of America's longest and richest traditions. Nearly all of us or our ancestors came to this country to find work, seek a better life, escape persecution or flee famine -- in short, to pursue the American dream. These are the same reasons today's immigrants come. Lutherans recall their own migration story, which includes the World War II era when one in six of the world's Lutherans was a refugee or displaced person.

Let us stand together to work with our Congress and the president to pass a fair and humane comprehensive immigration reform law that welcomes immigrants for the common good. With a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, we can create a society that is stable, strong and healthy.

In the meantime, let us resist "enforcement only" legislation that harms needy people. The Senate bill being considered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly would harm not only undocumented immigrants, but also individuals needing food assistance and other human services who are citizens and legal immigrants. Let us focus our attention on real top priorities instead of something that would accomplish little or nothing at the expense of our neediest people.