July 15, 2018 - "The Issue of Immigration"

The issue of immigration certainly raises controversy on both the national and state level.  It often spurs passionate debate that does not offer a lot of hope for reconciliation and resolution.  In May 2017, the Roman Catholic Bishops of Maryland issued a statement entitled “Addressing Immigration in Maryland:  A Call to Compassion, Prudence, and Cooperation from the Catholic Bishops of Maryland.”  Let’s look today at some of the points they made just over a year ago as many of them are still very relevant to today’s situation.
 
The Bishops urge that we 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.”
 
The Bishops continue:
 
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 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 communities safe.
· Give priority to ensuring the integrity of families and the ability of working parents to support and care for their children.
· Build that trust with our immigrant communities by establishing a clear division 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.

They close their statement by offering a word of hope to our immigrant brothers and sisters who have come to Maryland in search of a better life.  Our bishops hope that immigrants will find in our parishes and in other communities places of welcome, fellowship, and support.  The bishops also pledge through the Catholic parishes and institutions in Maryland to minister to our immigrant brothers and sisters as they learn a new language; as they seek employment, shelter, food, clothing and healthcare; and they celebrate their faith in a loving God.  The bishops thank our immigrant sisters and brothers for their inspiring example of fortitude, industriousness, and strong family values, and for their contribution to the qualities of life that truly define the greatness of America.  The bishops end the statement by invoking God’s blessing on our immigrant brothers and sisters and ask God to bless our work together to build communities of peace, prosperity, and friendship. 
 
Until next week,
Fr. John