There's plenty of Christian opposition to Trump's Muslim ban, these clerics prove it

U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on immigrants and refugees may target Muslims, but Christian religious leaders across the U.S. are having none of it. 

By giving preference to Christians over Muslims, religious leaders say the executive order pits one faith against the other.

The executive order, which bans refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim majority countries – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan, with more likely to be added soon – was signed last week. In its wake numerous families were torn apart and massive protests erupted across the country.

Despite rising fears over the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, many see Trump's executive order as "misguided" and "inhumane". 

Trump was raised as a member of the Presbyterian Church and has said publicly that he still considers himself part of his childhood church.

After Trump signed the executive order, Rev. J. Herbert Nelson – the top official in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. – had some strong criticism for the decision. 

Nelson called it a "a miscarriage of justice," in a statement.

"I urge the president and his administration to reverse this very harmful decision regarding refugees," he said. 

"Presbyterians are not afraid of this so-called terror threat. We are not afraid because we profess a faith in Jesus, who entered the world a refugee."

Cardinal Blase Cupich is a close ally of Pope Francis. He released a statement against the ban on Sunday.

"This weekend proved to be a dark moment in U.S. history," he wrote.

"The executive order to turn away refugees and to close our nation to those, particularly Muslims, fleeing violence, oppression and persecution is contrary to both Catholic and American values."

Pope Francis tweeted a message sharing the word "peace" in Arabic, Hebrew and English.

Since becoming the Pope of the Catholic Church in 2013, he has promoted interfaith dialogue as well as a strong message of tolerance and coexistence.

More than 500 Catholics also held a special mass outside of the White House in a message of solidarity with refugees and immigrants.

Rev. Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief, which has helped resettle thousands of Muslim refugees, announced that the organization was collecting signatures from Evangelical Christians that oppose Trump's order.

Arbeiter specifically criticized the Trump administration for giving preference to Christian refugees. 

"We have no evidence that would support a belief that the Obama administration was discriminating against Christian populations," he said, according to The Independent.

He added that his organization would resist "any measure that would discriminate against the most vulnerable people in the world based on ethnicity, country of origin, religion, gender or gender identity."

The Episcopal Church released a statement condemning the ban, saying any kind of religious test for refugees "fleeing persecution is un-American."

"We stand with and support those US officials and countless Americans who object to this executive action and are seeking ways to bring about justice," the statement said.

Many Episcopalians have joined the numerous protests and demonstrations across the U.S. as well.

Throughout the country, many other Christian leaders and citizens have raised their voices in support of their Muslim neighbors; joining protests, signing petitions and lobbying politicians.