On January 30, 2017, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, president of the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, vice-president of the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops, issued a joint statement as a result of the executive order on the new refugee policy announced by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2017. I thought that it was important that you see their joint statement as this issue has been hotly discussed in the media. Here is their statement for your prayerful consideration:
Over the past several days, many brother bishops have spoken out in defense of God’s people. We are grateful for their witness. Now, we call upon all the Catholic faithful to join us as we unite our voices with all who speak in defense of human dignity.
The bond between Christians and Muslims is founded on the unbreakable strength of charity and justice. The Second Vatican Council in
Nostra Aetate [the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with non-Christian religions, which was passed by an overwhelming vote of the assembled bishops and then promulgated by Blessed Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965] urged us to sincerely work toward a mutual understanding that would “promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.” The Church will not waiver in her defense of our sisters and brothers of all faiths who suffer at the hands of merciless persecutors.
The refugees fleeing from ISIS and other extremists are sacrificing all they have in the name of peace and freedom. Often, they could be spared if only they surrendered to the violent vision of their tormentors. They stand firm in their faith. Many are families, no different from yours or mine, seeking safety and security for their children. Our nation should welcome them as allies in a common fight against evil. We must screen vigilantly for infiltrators who would do us harm, but we must always be equally vigilant in our welcome of friends.
The Lord Jesus fled the tyranny of Herod, was falsely accused and then deserted by his friends. He had nowhere to lay His head (Lk. 9:58). Welcoming the stranger and those in flight is not one option among many in the Christian life. It is the very form of Christianity itself. Our actions must remind people of Jesus. The actions of our government must remind people of basic humanity. Where our brothers and sisters suffer rejection and abandonment we will lift our voice on their behalf. We will welcome them and receive them. They are Jesus and the Church will not turn away from Him.
Our desire is not to enter the political arena, but rather to proclaim Christ alive in the world today. In the very moment a family abandons their home under threat of death, Jesus is present. And He says to each of us, “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (MT 25:40).
Last month Cardinal Wuerl also commented that “Migration is certainly one of the most difficult issues facing our nation today. Socially, and politically, we are struggling to find the balance between our history as a country of immigrants with the reality of so many people who are leaving their homeland because of war or violence or poverty in search of a better life. These types of migration are parts of the larger experience which includes the movement of refugees, victims and survivors of human trafficking and migrant workers.”
Our recent Archdiocesan Synod discussed the needs and rights of immigrants and refugees in Service Recommendation 8. We’ll talk about that next week.
Fr. John Dillon
Pastor