Mark: TONIGHT ON
"NEWSWATCH," TAKING A STAND
AGAINST IRAN'S NUCLEAR
PROGRAM.
WHY THE U.S. SAYS WE WON'T
BE BACKING DOWN.
Wendy: PLUS, SNOW
SPREADS IT'S WAY ACROSS MUCH
OF THE COUNTRY.
THE LATEST ON THE SYSTEM
HEADING TOWARDS THE
MID-ATLANTIC.
Mark: AND HOW CHURCHES
IN AMERICA ARE STEPPING UP
AS A VOICE IN IMMIGRATION
REFORM.
ALL THIS AND MORE TONIGHT ON
"NEWSWATCH."
Mark: GOOD EVENING, I'M
MARK MARTIN,.
Lori: AND I'M LORI
JOHNSON.
THE VICE PRESIDENT SAYS THE
UNITED STATES IS NOT
BLUFFING.
IT WILL USE MILITARY FORCE
TO STOP IRAN'S NUCLEAR
PROGRAM IF IT HAS TO.
Mark: BUT ISRAEL'S
PRIME MINISTER WARNS THAT
IRAN IS MOVING AHEAD AND
THAT TIME IS RUNNING SHORT
TO STOP IT FROM BUILDING
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
Lori: DALE HERD HAS
TONIGHT'S TOP STORY.
Reporter: JUST WEEKS
FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST
TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND, THE
WHITE HOUSE WAS STRESSING
THE STRONG TIES BETWEEN THE
U.S. AND ISRAEL.
FROM THE MOMENT THE
PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE, HE
HAS ACTED SWIFTLY AND
DECISIVELY, TO MAKE CLEAR TO
THE WHOLE WORLD AND TO
ISRAEL THAT EVEN IF
CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED,
ONE THING HAS NOT: OUR DEEP
COMMITMENT TO THE SECURITY
OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.
[APPLAUSE]
Reporter: BUT TENSION
IS BUILDING OVER IRAN'S
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.
SPEAKING TO AMERICA'S
LARGEST PRO-ISRAEL LOBBY,
VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN
REAFFIRMED THE U.S.'S PLEDGE
TO INTERVENE MILITARILY TO
STOP IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM,
BUT ONLY IF ALL OTHER
OPTIONS FAIL.
OUR STRONG PREFERENCE,
THE WORLD'S PREFERENCE, IS
FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.
SO WHILE THAT WINDOW IS
CLOSING, WE BELIEVE THERE IS
STILL TIME AND SPACE TO
ACHIEVE THE OUTCOME.
GOD FORBID THE NEED TO ACT
OCCURS, IT IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE WHOLE
WORLD TO KNOW WE DID
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER, WE
DID EVERYTHING THAT
REASONABLY COULD HAVE BEEN
EXPECTED, TO AVOID ANY
CONFRONTATION.
Reporter: ALSO SPEAKING
TO THE GATHERING BY
SATELLITE, ISRAELI PRIME
MINISTER NETANYAHU PUSHED
BACK AGAINST U.S.
HESITATION.
DIPLOMACY HAS NOT
WORKED.
IRAN IGNORES ALL OF THESE
OFFERS.
IT STILL HAS NOT GONE OVER
THE RED LINE THAT I DREW
LAST YEAR, BUT IT IS GETTING
CLOSER TO THAT.
Reporter: THE WINDOW OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION
CANNOT REMAIN OPEN
INDEFINITELY, AND TALKS
CANNOT BECOME AN INSTRUMENT
FOR DELAY.
DALE HERD, CBN NEWS.
Mark: JOINING US WITH
MORE ON THE SITUATION WITH
IRAN IS NILE GARDNER,
DIRECTOR OF THE MARGARET
THATCHER CENTER FOR FREEDOM
AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
NILE, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS
NOT BLUFFING, BUT IF ISRAEL
DECIDES TO LAUNCH A
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE ON IRAN'S
NUCLEAR FACILITIES, DO YOU
BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES
WILL STAND BEHIND ISRAEL?
WELL, WE SAW SOME VERY
TOUGH TALK EARLIER THIS WEEK
FROM VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH
BIDEN, ADDRESSING ISRAELI
ACTIVISTS ON THE ISSUE OF
THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR THRUST.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE WHOLE
APPROACH TAKEN BY THE OBAMA
PRESIDENCY ON THE IRANIAN
NUCLEAR ISSUE HAS BEEN ONE
OF WEAKNESS.
AND WHEN BIDEN SAYS THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION ISN'T
BLUFFING, I THINK THERE ARE
A GREAT DEAL OF SKEPTICAL
PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO THINK
THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA DOESN'T
NECESSARILY HAVE THE
STRENGTH, REALLY, TO STAND
WITH ISRAEL IN THE FACE OF A
BARBARIC THREAT FROM AN
IRANIAN REGIME.
LET'S NOT FORGET, OF COURSE,
THIS IS A DICTATORSHIP IN
IRAN THAT HAS THREATENED TO
WIPE ISRAEL OFF THE FACE OF
THE MAP.
Mark: BY DOING NOTHING,
AND TAKING A WAIT AND SEE
ATTITUDE TOWARDS IRAN, HAS
THE U.S. ACTUALLY EMBOLDENED
THE IRAN TO CONTINUE ITS
NUCLEAR AMBITIONS?
I THINK THE IRANIAN
REGIME HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED
IN RECENT YEARS, THANKS TO
THE WEAKNESS OF THE CURRENT
U.S. ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS
SENT SOME VERY, VERY MIXED
SIGNALS TO TEHRAN.
ON THE ONE HAND, IT HAS
SUPPORTED THE POSITION OF
STRONG SANCTIONS AGAINST THE
IRANIAN REGIME.
ON THE OTHER, IT HAS HELD
OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.
AND I DO THINK THAT THERE IS
A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF
CREDIBILITY COMING FROM THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AT THIS
TIME.
THEY HAVE, AFTER ALL,
ADOPTED A POLICY BROADLY
SPEAKING OF APPEASEMENT
TOWARDS IRAN OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS.
Mark: HOW CLOSE DO YOU
THINK IRAN IS TO HAVING A
FUNCTIONAL NUCLEAR WEAPON?
I THINK THE IRANIAN
REGIME IS VERY, VERY CLOSE
TO GAINING NUCLEAR WEAPONS
CAPABILITY.
I THINK ACCORDING TO SOME
ISRAELI ESTIMATES, WE ARE
LOOKING AT PERHAPS A FEW
MONTHS, OR A YEAR AWAY OR SO
FROM IRAN BECOMING A REGIME
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
SO THE RISK IS VERY, VERY
REAL.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU MADE AN
EMPASSIONED PRESENTATION
BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS A
FEW MONTHS AGO, EMPHASIZING
THE SCALE OF THE THREAT.
AND IT'S A VERY, VERY REAL
ONE.
AFTER ALL, THIS IS A VERY
DANGEROUS ROGUE REGIME.
IT HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT IT INTENDS TO USE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS WHEN IT GETS
HOLD OF THEM.
WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE
THE THREAT COMING FROM
TEHRAN.
AND ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE,
IS TAKING PLACE AGAINST A
BACKDROP OF SIGNIFICANT CUTS
IN U.S. MILITARY SPENDING,
AND VERY MIXED MESSAGES
BEING SENT BY WASHINGTON TO
ISRAEL, AMERICA'S CLOSEST
ALLY IN THE REGION.
Mark: THANKS FOR BEING
WITH US, SIR.
MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU.
Lori: THE UNITED
NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS
PREPARING NEW SANCTIONS FOR
NORTH KOREA OVER ITS NUCLEAR
PROGRAM.
IT IS BELIEVED THE COUNTRY
MAY HAVE AS MANY AS 12
NUCLEAR WEAPONS, A NUMBER
THAT COULD BE GROWING.
THEY STARTED TO ENRICH
URANIUM.
WE DO HAVE TO GET USED TO
THE IDEA FOR THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE, WE MAY HAVE THIS
PERSISTENT PROBLEM.
IT IS A LOW SIMMER, BUT IT
DOESN'T BOIL OVER OR GO
AWAY.
Lori: TODAY'S CLOSED
MEETING AT THE U.N. WAS OVER
NORTH KOREA'S TEST OF A
NUCLEAR WEAPON JUST LAST
MONTH.
THE MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY
COUNCIL SAY THE NEW
SANCTIONS ON PYONGYANG WILL
THE TOUGHEST.
NORTH KOREA THREATENED TO
CANCELLED THE 1953
CEASE-FIRE THAT ENDED THE
KOREAN WAR.
Mark: SEQUESTER CUTS
MAY BE IN PLACE, BUT MANY
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE
STILL HIRING.
400 JOB ADS WERE POSTED ON
THE FIRST DAY AFTER MANY OF
THE CUTS.
OF THE JOBS POSTED, NEARLY A
QUARTER WERE IN MEDICAL OR
PUBLIC HEALTH.
67 WERE IN MANAGEMENT OR
CLERICAL SERVICES, AND
ANOTHER 21 WERE IN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
EXPERTS SAY THE MOVE COULD
REVEAL JUST HOW AGENCIES
PLAN TO INCREASE DEPARTMENT
SAVINGS, EITHER BY ATTRITION
OR LETTING PEOPLE GO.
Lori: HOUSE REPUBLICANS
ARE LOOKING TO SOFTEN THE
POTENTIAL DAMAGE OF THE
ACROSS THE BOARD SPENDING
CUTS.
THEY INTRODUCED A PLAN TO
FUND DAY-TO-DAY FEDERAL
OPERATIONS THROUGH
SEPTEMBER.
IT WOULD ALSO HEAD OFF A
POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN LATER THIS MONTH.
THE MEASURE WOULD LEAVE IN
PLACE AUTOMATIC CUTS OF 5%
TO DOMESTIC AGENCIES AND
7.8% TO THE PENTAGON.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD THEN
AWARD THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
ITS DETAILED 2013 BUDGET,
WHILE OTHER AGENCIES WOULD
BE FROZEN IN PLACE AT 2012
LEVELS.
THE G.O.P. FUNDING MEASURE
IS SET TO ADVANCE THROUGH
THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY.
Mark: A BUDGET BATTLE
WAGES IN WASHINGTON, WALL
STREET SEEMS TO BE DOING
OKAY.
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL
AVERAGE REACHED ITS HIGHEST
LEVEL TODAY, JUMPING MORE
THAN 100 POINTS JOURNALIST
AFTER OPENING.
EXPERTS SAY THE SURGE WAS BY
CHINA'S GROWTH AND A JUMP IN
EUROPEAN RETAIL SALES.
STOCKS WERE PUSHED UP MORE
AFTER A REPORT THAT THE
SERVICE SECTOR IN THE U.S.
IS AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF
ACTIVITY IN A YEAR.
THE DOW CLOSED AT A RECORD
HIGH TODAY, 14,254.
Lori: A NEW MEASURE TO
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF
PRO-LIFE EMPLOYERS, ENSURE
ENSURERS AND MEDICAL WORKS
HAS BEEN INTRODUCED ON
CAPITOL HILL.
JOHN JESSUP EXPLAINS HOW IT
MAY IMPACT TH THE
CONTRACEPTION MANDATE IN
OBAMACARE.
Reporter: CRITICS SAY
IT IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THIS NEW ACT, IT PUTS A
PERSONAL TWIST ON HOW THE
MANDATE AFFECTS RELIGIOUS
EMPLOYERS, FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEIR
EMPLOYEES.
IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE
TIDE ON WHAT THEY CALL AN
ALL-OUT ASSAULT ON RELIGIOUS
FREEDOMS, A TRIO OF HOUSE
REPUBLICANS INTRODUCED THE
HEALTH CARE CONSCIOUS RIGHTS
ACT.
THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT
CONSCIOUS AND GIVE POTENTIAL
VICTIMS THE RIGHT TO SEEK
RELIEF IN COURT IF THEY'RE
FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN
PROCEDURES THAT VIOLATE
THEIR RELIGIOUS OR MORAL
RELIEF.
IF IT WERE LAW, IT WOULD
GIVE GREATER PROTECTION TO
NURSES LIKE CATHY.
SHE SAYS HE WAS FORCED TO
TAKE PART IN AN ABORTION IN
2009, EVEN THOUGH THE
HOSPITAL KNEW OF HER
OBJECTIONS AS A PRACTICING
CATHOLIC.
FOUR YEARS LATER, SHE SAYS
SHE STILL HAS NEITHER MAYORS
FROM THE PROCEDURE.
-- SHE STILL HAS
NIGHTMARES FROM THE
PROCEDURE.
I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT
CARING FOR THIS VICTIM, AND
GIVING LIFE, AND BEING TRUE
TO MY CALLING AS A NURSE.
TO BE FORCED TO THIS WAS TOO
MUCH.
IT WAS EVERYTHING THAT YOU
THOUGHT WAS NOT IN AMERICA.
Reporter: NOW, THIS IS
SOLELY A G.O.P. EFFORT, LED
BY A HANDFUL OF HOUSE
REPUBLICANS.
THEY'RE REQUESTING HOUSE
LEADERSHIP TO INCREASE IN
THE UPCOMING CONTINUING
RESOLUTION ON THE
GOVERNMENT.
AT THIS POINT, LEADERSHIP
HAS NOT DECIDED WHETHER TO
ALLOW THAT REQUEST.
JOHN JESSUP, CBN NEWS,
CAPITOL HILL.
Mark: A BIPARTISAN
GROUP OF SENATORS IS
PROPOSING A BILL TO TOUGHEN
THE PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO
ILLEGALLY PURCHASE FIREARMS
FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
ELSE.
UNDER THE BILL, THE PRACTICE
OF GUN TRAFFICKING WOULD BE
A FEDERAL CRIME FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
PEOPLE WHO BUY A FIREARM FOR
SOMEONE WHO IS BANNED FROM
DOING SO, LIKE FELONS AND
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WOULD
FACE PENALTIES OF UP TO 20
YEARS IN PRISON.
THE BILL WOULD ALSO PUNISH
THE PERSON WHO BREAKS THE
LAW BY SELLING THE GUN.
Lori: THE ARKANSAS
SENATE HAS VOTED TO OVERRIDE
THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION ON
WHAT COULD BE THE MOST
RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BAN IN
THE NATION.
GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE RECENTLY
VETOED A MEASURE BANNING
MOST ABORTIONS ONCE A FETAL
HEARTBEAT COULD BE DETECTED,
USING AN ULTRASOUND.
THE GOVERNOR TELLS LAWMAKERS
THE BILL IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
HE USED THE SAME REASONING
LAST WEEK WHEN HE VETOED A
20-WEEK ABORTION BAN.
EACH CHAMBER NEEDS ONLY A
SIMPLE MAJORITY TO OVERRIDE
A VETO IN ARKANSAS.
Mark: EIGHT FORMER DRUG
ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION
LEADERS ARE CALLING ON THE
WHITE HOUSE TO SUE COLORADO
AND WASHINGTON.
BOTH STATES HAVE LEGALIZED
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE.
AND THE FORMER D.E.A.
OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT
MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO
REVERSE THE MOVE.
MARIJUANA IS STILL ILLEGAL
UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
BUT ONE OF THE FORMER D.E.A.
LEADERS SAYS NOT ACTING WILL
CREATE A DOMINO EFFECT IN
WHICH OTHER STATES FOLLOW
COLORADO AND WASHINGTON'S
LEAD.
Lori: COMING UP, HOW
NEW YORK CITY BUSINESSES ARE
GEARING UP FOR THE BAN ON
SUGARY DRINKS.
Mark: WELCOME BACK.
A LATE-SEASON WINTER STORM
IS BARRELING THROUGH THE
HEARTLAND ON A PATH TO THE
MID-ATLANTIC.
Lori: THE NATION'S
CAPITAL AND 19 OTHER STATES
ARE IN ITS PATH.
AS EPHRAIM GRAHAM REPORTS,
FOR SOME AREAS IT COULD BE
THE BIGGEST SNOWFALL OF THE
WINTER.
Reporter: TRAVEL IS A
NIGHTMARE IN THE UPPER
MIDWEST.
IN COLORADO, POOR VISIBILITY
AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS LED
TO A MULTI-CAR PILEUP.
ON I-70, SEVERAL ACCIDENTS
LATER, THE OFFICIALS CLOSED
THE HIGHWAY COMPLETELY.
SLIPPERY ROADS ALSO HAD
DRIVERS LOSING CONTROL IN
MINNESOTA.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS
BE THE END OF THE WINTER
SEASON, BUT I HAVE LIVED IN
MINNESOTA MY ENTIRE LIFE,
AND I'M NOT COUNTING ON IT.
Reporter: 19 STATES IN
ALL, FROM MONTANA TO
VIRGINIA ARE UNDER WINTER
WARNINGS.
NOW THIS WINDSTORM AND
SEVERAL OTHERS -- IT HAS
BEEN QUITE A BUSY WINTER.
Reporter: IN NORTH
DAKOTA, PLOWS CLEARED ROADS
AFTER A FOOT OF SNOW HIT
PARTS OF THE STATE.
CHICAGO COULD SEE UP TO
10 INCHES OF SNOW LATER
TODAY.
AND WASHINGTON, D.C. IS
BRACING FOR ITS BIGGEST
SNOWFALL IN TWO YEARS.
IT BYPASSED US IN THE
WINTER MONTHS, AND HERE IT
IS, MARCH IS ROARING IN LIKE
A LION.
SO WE BETTER BE PREPARED.
Reporter: THE STORM
WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
APPALACHIANS AND
MID-ATLANTIC BY WEDNESDAY
AND THURSDAY.
FORECASTERS SAY IT IS
POSSIBLE IT COULD DUMP HEAVY
SNOW IN THE NORTHEAST AND
NEW ENGLAND AS WELL.
EPHRAIM GRAHAM, CBN NEWS.
Mark: WOW, THOSE POOR
PEOPLE.
IN OTHER NEWS, COMPANIES AND
FOOD SUPPLIERS ARE BRACING
FOR THE SODA BAN THAT WILL
HIT NEW YORK CITY NEXT
WEEK.
IT IS PART OF MAYOR
BLOOMBERG'S EFFORTS TO FIGHT
OBESITY BY BANNING SUGARY
DRINKS OVER 16 OUNCES.
MANY BUSINESSES WORRY THE
NEW LAW WILL HURT THEIR
BOTTOM LINE, AND FORCE
RESTAURANTS TO REPRINT MEN
USE TO ACCOMMODATE THE BAN.
THESE ARE ALL GONE.
THIS BECOMES A SMALL, AND
THE 16-OUNCE WILL BE THE
LARGE.
IT IS VERY, VERY
EXPENSIVE, FROM THE
PRINTING, FROM THE
GLASSWARE, EVERYTHING
TRICKLES DOWN WHEN YOU MAKE
A DECISION LIKE THAT.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT
$20,000 TO $30,000 LESS PER
YEAR.
Mark: WOW.
THE BAN TAKES EFFECT
TUESDAY, MARCH 12th.
ESTABLISHMENTS WILL HAVE A
THREE-MONTH GRACE PERIOD TO
COMPLY.
THE FINE IS $200 PER SALE.
Lori: UP NEXT, A LOOK
AT A NEW FORCE IN
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
COMING FROM AMERICA'S CHURCH
PEW.
Lori: POLITICIANS IN
WASHINGTON OFTEN JUST TALK
ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM,
BUT IN THE HEARTLAND AND
AMERICA, SPIRITUAL LEADERS
ARE TAKING A GRASSROOTS
APPROACH.
Mark: THEY'RE TEACHING
PEOPLE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO
SAY ABOUT IT.
AS HEATHER CELLS EXPLAINS IN
TONIGHT'S FOCUS REPORT, THAT
COULD FINALLY LEAD TO SOME
ACTION.
Reporter: AT FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN IN COLORADO
SPRINGS, IMMIGRANTS FLOOD IN
EVERY WEEK.
THEY'RE REFUGEES NEWLY
ARRIVED IN THE U.S., AND
EAGER TO LEARN ENGLISH.
CHURCH MEMBERS ARE TUTORING
THEM, AND GETTING A DOSE OF
INSPIRATION THEMSELVES.
MOST OF THEM TAKE THE BUS
AND TRANSFER TWO OR THREE
TIMES TO GET TO CLASS.
AND THEY'RE JUST SO DILIGENT
ABOUT SHOWING UP EVERY DAY.
IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME THE
COURAGE THAT IT TAKES FOR
THEM TO COME HERE.
Reporter: THIS
INTERACTION BRINGS THE
IMMIGRATION ISSUE DIRECTLY
TO CHURCH MEMBERS AND
HEIGHTENS THEIR AWARENESS OF
THE NATIONAL DEBATE.
ONCE YOU HAVE NAMES AND
FACES TO PUT WITH IT, IT NO
LONGER IS THIS ISSUE THAT
YOU JUST READ ABOUT IN THE
NEWSPAPER.
Reporter: BUT NOT ALL
CHURCHES HERE GET SO
ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
FOR YEARS MANY CHURCHES IN
COLORADO HAVE SIMPLY BEEN
UNAWARE OF IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES RIGHT IN THEIR
MIDST.
THAT IS ONE REASON WHY A
GROUP CALLED THE EVANGELICAL
IMMIGRATION TABLE DECIDED TO
REACH OUT.
I THINK THAT WHEN YOU
DON'T KNOW IMMIGRANTS AND
YOU DON'T INTERACT WITH
THEM, IT IS JUST NOT ON YOUR
RADAR.
Reporter: THE GROUP
BEGAN JUST LAST SUMMER, AND
ALREADY ITS MEMBERSHIP
INCLUDES MAJOR PLAYERS LIKE
"FOCUS ON THE FAMILY" AND
"THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST
CONVENTION."
IN WASHINGTON, THE E.I. T.
IS PUSHING FOR IMMIGRATION
REFORM.
IT WANTS TO SECURE U.S.
BORDERS, PROTECT THE UNITY
OF THE FAMILY, AND PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITY FOR EARNED
CITIZENSHIP.
WE DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE
OUR NEED TO BE THERE AND TO
WORK TOGETHER WITH OTHER
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
Reporter: THE E.I. T.
IS ALSO TAKING ITS GROUND
GAME TO CHURCHES IN STATES
WHERE THE IMMIGRATION
POPULATION HAS EXPLODED.
STATES LIKE FLORIDA, TEXAS
AND COLORADO.
THE GOAL: TEACH WHAT THE
BIBLE SAYS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS
AND ENCOURAGE MINISTRY.
A VIDEO CAMPAIGN SAYS IT
ALL.
I WAS A STRANGER, AND YOU
INVITED ME IN.
I NEEDED CLOTHES AND YOU
CLOTHED ME.
Reporter: NEW LIFE IN
COLORADO SPRINGS IS ONE
CHURCH THAT IS ALREADY ON
BOARD.
AS A CHRIST FOLLOWER, I
THINK WE'RE COMPELLED BY
SCRIPTURE, BY CHRIST, TO
WELCOME ANYONE WHO IS AMONG
US THAT NEEDED HELP.
Reporter: ALTHOUGH
PASTOR BOYD SAYS HE RESPECTS
THE RULE OF LAW, CARING FOR
IMMIGRANTS IS, IN HIS VIEW,
JUST SIMPLE THEOLOGY.
NEW LIFE HAS BROADENED ITS
UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE
WITH THE CREATION OF A
WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINIC.
IT ATTRACTS IMMIGRANTS, BOTH
LEGAL AND UNDOCUMENTED.
AS WE GET TO KNOW OUR
PATIENTS, WE FIND THESE ARE
INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED AND
DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND
EVERYONE HAS A UNIQUE
STORY.
Reporter: RINA THOMPSON
TRANSLATES FOR SPONTANEOUS
NIS SPANISH-SPEAKING
PATIENTS.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE HAVING
MY KIDS IN OTHER COUNTRY AND
NEVER SEEING THEM AGAIN.
Reporter: OF COURSE,
NOT EVERYONE AGREES ALONG
THESE THEOLOGICAL LINES.
THEY ARGUE WHILE THE BIBLE
CALLS INDIVIDUALS TO ACTS OF
KINDNESS, GOVERNMENTS MUST
PROVIDE JUSTICE.
WHICH VIEW PREVAILS COULD BE
DECIDED IN THE COMING MONTHS
IN WASHINGTON.
EVANGELICALS HAVE THE
NUMBERS TO POTENTIALLY SWAY
LAWMAKERS, BUT MANY HAVEN'T
THOUGHT THROUGH THE ISSUE OR
HOW IT RELATES TO THEIR
FAITH.
CONSIDER ONLY 7% OF ADULTS
IN THE U.S. WITH POSITIONS
ON IMMIGRATION SAY RELIGION
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
INFLUENCE ON THEIR VIEW.
COMPARE THAT TO GAY
MARRIAGE, WHERE RELIGION
INFLUENCES 35%.
THEY WANT TO EDUCATE ENOUGH
PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND
ULTIMATELY FORCE WASHINGTON
TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE
REFORM.
MY END GOAL IS TO SEE THE
CHURCH BE PART OF THAT
PROCESS, AND NOT TO KIND OF
BURY THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND
AND BE PART OF WHAT DRIVES
THAT ANTIIMMIGRANT
SENTIMENT.
Reporter: IN THE
MEANTIME, CHURCH ATTITUDES
ARE ALREADY CHANGING.
FOR PAM VANDERPOOL, IT
STARTED WHEN SHE BEGAN TO
MORE CAREFULLY EXAMINE HIS
BIBLE.
HE TALKS ABOUT THE WIDOW,
THE ORPHAN, THE STRANGER IN
THE LAND, THESE VULNERABLE
GROUPS.
I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT OR
I'M JUST PRETENDING
CHRISTIANITY.
I'M NOT REALLY DOING IT.
Reporter: AND A DRIVE
AROUND COLORADO SPRINGS
SHOWS VISIBLE CHANGES AS
WELL.
LIKE THE SIGN OUTSIDE THIS
MENNONITE CHURCH THAT SHOWS
A PERUVIAN IMMIGRANT
CONGREGATION NOW MEETS
HERE.
WE ARE ABOUT 240 PEOPLE,
BUT THEY SAID YOU ARE THE
CHURCH OF GOD.
YOU ARE OUR BROTHERS, AND
YOU NEED TO USE THE SAME
CHURCH WE ARE USING.
Reporter: ACROSS THE
STATE, PASTORS MEET MONTHLY
TO PRAY FOR IMMIGRANTS.
THEY'RE NOT POLITICAL
MEETINGS, BUT WHO KNOWS.
SUCH PRAYERS COULD INFLUENCE
NOT ONLY HEARTS IN COLORADO,
BUT THOSE IN WASHINGTON AS
WELL.
REPORTING IN COLORADO,
HEATHER CELLS, CBN NEWS.
Lori: UP NEXT, THE
REASON BEHIND THIS WOMAN'S
PUBLIC TEARS OF JOY.
Lori: EMBARRASSMENT
TURNS INTO TEARS FOR ONE
UNSUSPECTING MOTHER WHILE
DINING WITH HER HUSBAND AT A
LOCAL RESTAURANT.
Mark: HER HUSBAND
STANDS UP TO MAKE A VERY
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
I'VE GOT A LOVELY LADY
HERE WITH ME TONIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO LET HER KNOW
HOW MUCH WE LOVE HER.
SHE'S BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF
A BLESSING AND A GIFT TO OUR
ENTIRE FAMILY.
SHE IS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED
RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S OKAY.
SO WITH SAYING THAT, SORRY
TO INTERRUPT YOUR DINNER,
BUT I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO
HER A GIFT.
AND GIVE HER A GIFT OF HER
SOLDIER, HER SON, HOME FROM
AFGHANISTAN.
AND SO WELCOME HOME YOUR
SON, STAFF SERGEANT DAVID
BRADLEY.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]
Mark: WOW, THAT GAVE ME
CHILLS WHEN HE PERKED UP BY
THAT.
THE HOMECOMING WENT VIRAL
AND WAS POSTED ON
welcomehome.com A SITE
FILLED WITH SURPRISE
HOMECOMINGS.
Lori: THAT BRINGS TEARS
TO MY EYES.
WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE
FOR HER.
IT IS SO NICE TO SEE THESE
WONDERFUL HOMECOMINGS.
Mark: THEY GO THROUGH
SO MUCH OVERSEAS AND THEIR
FAMILIES GO THROUGH SO MUCH
AT HOME.
Lori: THAT'S ALL OF THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS
EDITION OF
