[I didn't mention this from the pulpit - yesterday Sunday June 24, 2017 - so I'm putting it here on my blog.]
The Catholic
bishops of Maryland issued the following statement addressing immigration in
Maryland on May 30, 2017
The issue of immigration continues to raise controversy at both
the national and state level, often spurring passionate debate that offers
little hope for reconciliation and resolution. This situation urgently calls
for the Catholic Church and all people of faith and good will to come together
in a spirit of compassion, prudence, and cooperation to address the challenges
faced by immigrants, elected officials, law enforcement and our communities as
a whole. The complexity of federal immigration enforcement policies and their
effect at local levels is of particular concern. In Maryland, this is
especially the case in light of the unsuccessful efforts to pass state
legislation aimed at identifying uniform state parameters for cooperation
between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. As more and more
local governments in our state take up this issue moving forward, we, the
Catholic bishops of Maryland, urge all Marylanders to consider the following
principles as a basis for engaging in dialogue as we work toward the common
good.
Let us be guided by the words of Pope Francis, who in his
historic address to the U.S. Congress reminded us: “[I]f we want
security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want
opportunities, let us give opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will
be the yardstick which time will use for us.”
We urge state and local elected officials and lawmakers at the
executive, legislative and judicial levels to enact and uphold immigration
policies that:
- Respect the spirit of our
country’s Fourth Amendment protection against apprehension and searches of
persons or homes without probable cause, and against detention beyond
normal criminal procedures, while at the same time respecting the
necessary role of law enforcement to uphold laws and policies that keep
our communities safe.
- Give priority to ensuring
the integrity of families and the ability of working parents to support
and care for their children.
- Build trust with our
immigrant communities by establishing a clear division of duties between
local law enforcement and federal immigration agents so that immigrants
feel safe reporting crimes and cooperating in police investigations.
- Create safe environments by
enforcing clearly established consequences for criminal violations of the
law.
- Reduce fear among our
immigrant communities by protecting their ability to congregate and move
freely at their churches, schools and other community gathering places.
We urge Maryland’s Catholics, other faith communities and all
people of good will to:
- Respect differences of
opinion on this issue in a spirit of listening and understanding rather
than accusation and name-calling.
- Engage in the political
process and communicate your opinions to your elected officials. We
encourage you neither to shy away from the political arena, nor to allow
partisan and hyperbolic factions to dominate the political debate on
immigration.
- Seek to learn more about the
root causes of immigration and the challenges immigrants face in
navigating our country’s complex immigration system.
- Develop personal
relationships with immigrants in your communities and learn firsthand
about their hopes and dreams, fears and sorrows.
In closing, we offer a word of hope to our immigrant brothers
and sisters who have come to Maryland in search of a better life:
We pray that you will find in the Catholic Church and many other
communities in our state places of welcome, fellowship and support. We pledge
through our parishes and institutions to minister to you as you learn a new
language; as you seek employment, shelter, food, clothing and healthcare; and
as you celebrate your faith in a loving God. We thank you for your inspiring
example of fortitude, industriousness, and strong family values, and for your
contribution to the qualities of life that truly define the greatness of
America. May the grace of God bless you and bless our work together to build
communities of peace, prosperity and friendship.
1 comment:
Thank you Fr. Andy for posting this .
Fr. Charlie read the letter at 7:30 Mass on Sunday .
We , as a Catholic community , need to hear this and assimilate it .
Great to read and reread it again .
God bless us !
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