Sacred mobilisations: sanctuary churches and sanctuary schools

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper compares two modern sanctuary institutions primarily construed for undocumented peoples in the U.S.; Christian-based church sanctuaries, and public-school districts that have declared themselves as ‘sanctuaries.’ Through examination of 10 church sanctuary resolutions and 10 school district resolutions from across the country, the study inquires about the extent to which sanctuary school districts and churches similarly provide not only material but also symbolic protection for undocumented individuals and families. Herein we examine the extent to which school districts mirror those of churches, towards the goal of understanding how sanctuary itself is being framed and practiced in the U.S. Working with Hilary Cunningham’s framing of sanctuary movements, as well as David Kertzer’s Ritual, Politics, and Power, our analysis suggests that churches and public-school districts are strikingly similar in their sanctuary legitimation and community mobilisation processes, even if the content of their resolutions differ.