"[ Makes] a highly distinctive contribution by clarifying the relationship between ecumenical, 'mainline' Protestant churches and immigration policy. While analyzing the multi-decade liberal Protestant lobby against racist immigration laws and practices, Pruitt reveals a sophisticated understanding of denominational cultures, the importance of which down through the 1960s is too often forgotten. . . . A carefully designed, skillfully executed work that will interest students of the relation of religion to politics in modern America." - David A. Hollinger, University of California, Berkeley "An outstanding study examining the role of mainline Protestant churches in fostering religious pluralism in twentieth-century America. Steeped in original research and lucidly written, Open Hearts, Closed Doors not only serves as an important study to understand an overlooked aspect of twentieth-century American Protestantism. It highlights ongoing struggles today regarding how we interpret America's uneasy relationship with pluralism. Pruitt serves as an expert guide in taking the reader through his topic, producing a work that will be invaluable to scholars and students alike." - Christopher Evans, Professor of the History of Christianity, Boston University "Open Hearts, Closed Doors makes valuable contributions to the academic literature on immigration, religion, and American historyBy highlighting how white mainline Protestants in the past chose to care for the foreign-born and advocate for fair immigration policies, Pruitt offers a gentle lesson to white mainline Protestants in the presentthat they, too, can choose to engage compassionately and humanely in the immigration debates of the current day." - Melissa Borja, University of Michigan (Reading Religion) "Pruitt's portrayal of the mainline Protestants not only shows the folly of their positions, but also the folly of those American Lutheran leaders who sought to emulate them." (Lutheran Quarterly)
