Chicago Auxiliary Bishop José María Garcia-Maldonado, at left, preaches during Mass outside the Broadview ICE Detention Center Nov. 1. (Courtesy of Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership/Bryan Sebastian)
“You have in your hands a very great task, to accompany those who need a sign that God never abandons anyone—not the smallest, not the poorest, not the foreigner, not anyone.”
Pope Leo XIV
Most of us have seen the chilling video clips of masked and armed men without identification strong-arming brown-skinned persons into the backs of unmarked vehicles. They are members of ICE -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- and these agents have almost unlimited authority to kidnap "illegals" from their places of work and homes and schools and court houses and on the streets of every community in America for mass deportation.
Many of those being apprehended resist and have paperwork on their persons proviing that they are in fact legally in the United States. often born there. It doesn't matter to these thugs and if too many people protest in these communities they are tear-gassed or the Trump administration sends in the storm troopers. Surely this is the worst infringement on civil liberties in the US since the 1950s and early 60s.
Some Roman Catholic bishops and their priests have given dispensation to parishioners not to attend Mass to protect them from apprehension. Some have accompanied folk to court appearances while others have attempted to bring the sacrament to detention centres.
This week there have been an important statement by Catholic bishops in opposition to mass deportation. According to the Washington Post:
In a rare group statement, America’s Catholic bishops voted nearly unanimously Wednesday to condemn the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants as an attack on “God-given human dignity,” and advocated for “meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws.”
“We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement,” read the message from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. After the vote (216-5, with three abstentions), the bishops stood and applauded. The last such “Special Message” was delivered 12 years ago.
There is also an initiative by the Roman Catholic church called You Are Not Alone to support immigrants who are living in the midst of this nightmare.
I applaud these bishops for their courage, speaking almost with one voice. And Pope Leo, who is an American, as well. I'll try not to think of the five wretches who voted against the message, as well as those who were too timid to vote at all.
Please watch this powerful video from the bishops and take a look at the resources below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsMQ8V4pNCI
You Are Not Alone
The Catholic Church is here to accompany immigrants and their families in need.
“You have in your hands a very great task, to accompany those who need a sign that God never abandons anyone—not the smallest, not the poorest, not the foreigner, not anyone.” – Pope Leo XIV
Our Catholic faith teaches that every person is made in the image of God and deserves respect, dignity, and care. While people have the right to build a future in their homeland, they also have the right to migrate when life at home becomes unsafe or unsustainable. In response to the growing fear and instability caused by increased immigration enforcement and the threat of mass deportations, the Catholic Church has launched the You Are Not Alone initiative to assure migrants and their families that the Church stands with them, offering pastoral support and accompaniment during this difficult time.
The actions below – which focus on emergency and family support, solidarity through public prayer and witness, and accompaniment and pastoral care – provide practical ways for local organizations and individuals to show solidarity with migrant families. They include guidance, activities, and resources to help communities respond with compassion and support in this time of uncertainty.
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