Even though Indiana Gov. Mike Pence directed state agencies last month to stop providing aid to Syrian refugees, Catholic Charities raised its own funds to successfully resettle a refugee family in the state. Now Pence, a self-avowed evangelical Christian, has discovered that he too apparently has enough of a heart not to stand in the way of state aid being provided to the family, reports Caitlin MacNeal.
"I have no intention of interfering with the ordinary administration of state government relative to people who are legally within the state of Indiana," Pence said at a press conference, according to the Indianapolis Star. [...]
Catholic Charities moved ahead with plans to resettle a Syrian refugee family in Indiana despite objections from Pence. The refugees joined a family already living in Indianapolis on Monday night. With Pence's announcement, the Syrian refugees will not have any trouble receiving state assistance like food stamps.
However, Pence assured reporters that he doesn't intend to let the charitable work of one organization single-handedly disrupt his plan to deprive other refugees of help. Pence is sticking by his original asswipe of a commitment, he said, rejecting the notion that his bid to choke off assistance to war-torn refugees was more symbolic than substantive in nature.
"It is not symbolic in the least," Pence responded. "I recognize Catholic Charities raised private dollars, but I have it in my power to suspend this program and suspend the resources."