The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) joins the Ohio Council of Churches and faith leaders from across the country in denouncing the disturbing misinformation and false rumors circulating about our Haitian immigrant neighbors in Springfield, Ohio. These falsehoods and misinformation have led to death threats, bomb scares, schools closing, and disrupted the lives of the Haitian community as well as all the residents of Springfield. It is immoral to stoke fear and division in this way to fuel selfish ambitions or vain imaginations. This community has been turned upside down based on these falsehoods and it is reprehensible.
As followers of Christ, we are called to love our neighbors, seek truth, and stand against injustice. It is in this spirit that we address this issue. We cannot stay silent while lives are being put into harm’s way, essentially declared collateral damage to the selfish ambition of candidates running for the highest office in our nation.
Recent misinformation suggesting that Haitian immigrants in Springfield have eaten the pets of other residents persists, despite assurances of their untruth from officials at the local and state levels. To accuse the Haitian residents, who have positively contributed to the revitalization of the city, of such abhorrent behavior is deeply harmful and racist. These baseless claims serve only to stoke fires of fear, division, and prejudice within the Springfield community and in communities across our great nation. They reignite detrimental racist tropes of the past that have no place in our communal life.
As Christians, we have a moral obligation to speak out against these falsehoods and to promote understanding and compassion.
Our Haitian siblings came to Springfield legally, seeking what all Americans want—safety, opportunity, and the capacity to contribute positively to our community. They bring with them rich cultural traditions, strong family values, and a deep faith that many of us share. Like all of us, they are created in God’s image and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
We urge all members of our community to:
1. Reject and speak out against this harmful misinformation.
2. Seek accurate information from reliable sources.
3. Reflect on how we can better embody Christ’s love for all people, regardless of where they are from and how they may be different from us.
Rather than disparaging people for wanting a better life, let us instead remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:35 (NRSVue), “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” As Christians, we are called to welcome the stranger and to love our neighbors as ourselves, not denigrate them for personal gain. Our faith calls us to live out Jesus’ instructions. May it be so.