A placard with the Hawaiian word “Ohana” is seen in Washington during a national day of action called “Keep Families Together” June 30. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“Childhood, given its fragile nature, has unique and inalienable needs. Above all else, there is the right to a healthy and secure family environment, where a child can grow under the guidance and example of a father and a mother. (From Pope Francis’ message for 2017 World Day of Migrants and Refugees)
“Where is my Mommy and Papi?” This is the cry of helpless migrant children separated from their parents who are seeking asylum and a better future at the US-Mexico border. Heartbreaking recordings and photos of keiki in steel cages at what some call “child internment camps,” have recently gone viral on social media.
Such vivid depictions of traumatic separation tell only part of the devastating story these families face. They have survived the dangerous journey fleeing from violence in Central America only to be arrested at the U.S. border and their children locked up at sites in 17 states, including some so-called “tender age” centers reportedly holding separated babies only months old.
Pope Francis called such separation “immoral.” The church speaks clearly about the rights of all families and children. The Vatican’s Migrants and Refugees Section, which Holy Father personally directs, recently reflected on family separation crises on the Mexico-U.S. border:
“Despite their needs and indeed rights which everyone recognizes, children are also those who pay most dearly for past and present conflict, injustice, corruption, for mistaken government policies and for regulations improperly applied. Migration is, in this regard, a great paradox. On the one hand, children, their education, their possibilities, are very often the primary motive for a family’s leaving their home to settle elsewhere. On the other hand, migration made difficult and dangerous for lack of safe and regular pathways means that large numbers of children are separated from their families at the point of departure, lost en route or in the country of arrival, rendered vulnerable to trafficking and enslavement, and frustrated in their natural calling to grow, develop integrally and become contributing members of society.”
The Vatican’s Migrants and Refugees Section social media accounts on the June 2018 World Refugee Day carried this message from the Holy Father: “A person’s dignity does not depend on their being a citizen, a migrant or a refugee. Saving the life of someone fleeing war and poverty is an act of humanity. We encounter Jesus in those who are poor, rejected or refugees. Do not let fear get in the way of welcoming our neighbors in need.”
The pope repeated his message urging support and prayers for migrant children and separated families in his Sunday Angelus address.
Bishop Larry Silva attended the June meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at which the chairman, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, stated, “At its core, asylum is an instrument to preserve the right to life. We urge courts and policy makers to respect and enhance, not erode, the potential of our asylum system to preserve and protect the right to life. I join the USCCB Committee on Migration in condemning the continued use of family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border as an implementation of the administration’s zero tolerance policy. Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral.”
Pope Francis said he strongly supports the U.S. bishops’ position.
Here in Hawaii, the diocese is committed to Pope Francis’ call of welcoming, supporting, promoting and integrating immigrants by helping legal permanent resident migrants become citizens. This year the Office for Social Ministry co-sponsored a citizenship fair where 200 volunteers helped 100 legal permanent residents complete their applications for citizenship. Another citizenship fair is planned for the near future by churches, immigration lawyers and local unions.
The Office for Social Ministry and Catholic Charities Hawaii are also collaborating with the University of Hawaii Law School and the USCCB’s Catholic Legal Immigration Network to train parishioners to help immigration lawyers provide legal services to migrants throughout Hawaii.
For more information on how to put faith into action on these issues, visit these websites: www.catholichawaii.org, www.officeforsocialministry.org, www.usccb.org and migrants-refugees.va.
USCCB’s Prayer for Migrant Children
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives the One who sent me.” Mk 9:37
Loving Father, in your infinite compassion, we seek your divine protection for refugee children who are often alone and afraid.
Provide solace to those who have been witnesses to violence and destruction, who have lost parents, family, friends, home, and all they cherish due to war or persecution.
Comfort them in their sorrow, and bring help in their time of need.
Show mercy to unaccompanied migrant children, Lord.
Reunite them with their families and loved ones.
Guide those children who are strangers in a foreign land to a place of peace and safety.
Comfort them in their sorrow, and bring help in their time of need.
Show us how we might reach out to these precious and vulnerable children.
Open our hearts to migrant and refugee children in need, so that we might see in them your own migrant Son.
Give us courage to stand up in their defense against those who would do them harm.
For this we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
Mahalo,
Our friends at the Office for Social Ministry
