U.S. evangelical leaders urge acceptance of refugees
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Evangelical leaders are urging fellow Christians to welcome refugees from Syria and Iraq despite opposition by many governors and presidential candidates.
Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Assemblies of God, World Relief and other Christian groups said they would not surrender to fears surrounding the issue.
The remarks are from a statement released Thursday called a "Christian Declaration on Caring for Refugees: An Evangelical Response."
A recent Pew Research Center survey found white evangelicals had the greatest opposition of any American religious group to accepting more refugees.
Many, mostly Republican governors, have called for a temporary halt to resettling refugees from Syria over security concerns after the Islamic extremist attacks last month in Paris and earlier this month in San Bernardino, California.
Advocates for refugees say those allowed into the U.S. undergo extensive vetting that can last years.
Donald Trump's proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S., and the shooting in San Bernardino, have many of America's five million Muslim's defending their faith.
On Thursday, CBS News sat down with five Muslim millennials, all born and raised in the United States, to discuss what Islam means to them and how they've handled the backlash.
On the panel was college student R.J. Khalaf, Army Lieutenant Shahn Khan, nursing student Sameya Omarkheil, college student Taqwa Brookins, and journalist Noor Tagouri.
Although they had all grown up in the U.S., they described the hostility they have felt in recent weeks.
To see what the Muslim millennials had to say, click here.