WASHINGTON (CNS) — A coalition of religious groups decried the Minuteman Project along the Arizona-Mexico border as "an affront to internationally protected rights and to our nation’s history of hospitality."

An April 13 statement from the religious groups said: "As Christians, we believe that we are called to welcome the stranger. We recognize the gifts that migrants bring to our communities. Those who sacrifice in order to assure the survival of their families are to be admired and applauded."

Six of the nine religious organizations signing the statement were Catholic.

The Minuteman Project, described on its Web site as "a citizens’ neighborhood watch along our border," said volunteers would patrol the border for one month, starting April 4, because of participants’ dissatisfaction with ongoing illegal crossings into the United States by Mexican and Central American immigrants. About 635 people — not all from Arizona — have volunteered to take part in the patrols. Some, but not all, are armed.

"We understand that many of those participating in this project are heavily armed," the religious groups’ statement said.

Organizers of the Minuteman Project said its "call for volunteers is not a call to arms, but a call to voices seeking a peaceful and respectable (resolution) to the chaotic neglect by members of our local, state and federal governments charged with applying U.S. immigration law."

The Minuteman group claimed that its volunteers’ observations of border activity and their calls to authorities had resulted in 268 apprehensions by the U.S. Border Patrol through April 12. Volunteers were instructed to leave all physical contact with immigrants to Border Patrol agents.

About 400 volunteers were patrolling 23 miles of the border in the San Pedro Valley of eastern Arizona.

"Their intent to corral and harass the migrants they encounter is an affront to internationally protected rights and to our nation’s history of hospitality," said the religious groups’ statement. "Law enforcement officials have been properly charged with the role of monitoring immigration along our Southern border. Any attempt to usurp these duties is inappropriate."

The statement said it supported ongoing "unity events" in U.S.-Mexican border communities "to remedy xenophobia, fear and division perpetuated by the actions of the Minutemen."

Catholic groups signing the statement were the Oblate Justice and Peace Office, the Religious Task Force on Central America and Mexico, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, the Medical Mission Sisters Alliance for Justice, the Columban Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office, and the Network Catholic social justice lobby.

Other signers were the American Friends Service Committee, the Washington office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) and United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries.