OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“The poor man cried out and the Lord heard him.” (PS 34:6)
This Scripture passage is the theme for World Day of the Poor, Sunday, Nov. 18. It is also the first line in Bishop Larry Silva’s letter, published in the Nov. 2 Hawaii Catholic Herald, urging support for the Nov. 18 U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection. The collection, with the theme “Working on the Margins with the Poor,” coincides with an increasing focus by American Catholic leaders on the migrants arriving at our borders.
In a joint statement regarding the migrant “caravans” on their way to U.S. borders, Bishop Joe S. Vasquez, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, Sean Callahan, president/CEO of Catholic Relief Services, and Sister Donna Markham, president/CEO of Catholic Charities USA, strongly responded to the situation:
“As Christians, we must answer the call to act with compassion toward those in need and to work together to find humane solutions that honor the rule of law and respect the dignity of human life. As Catholic agencies assisting poor and vulnerable migrants in the United States and around the world, we are deeply saddened by the violence, injustice and deteriorating economic conditions forcing many people to flee their homes in Central America.
“While nations have the right to protect their borders, this right comes with responsibilities: governments must enforce laws proportionately, treat all people humanely, and provide due process. We affirm that seeking asylum is not a crime.
“We urge all governments to abide by international law and existing domestic laws that protect those seeking safe haven and ensure that all those who are returned to their home country are protected and repatriated safely.
“An enforcement-only approach does not address nor solve the larger root causes that cause people to flee their countries in search of protection.”
Pope Francis underscored this Gospel response in his message this month to the World Social Forum on Migrations in Mexico City.
“Positive transformation of our societies begins with the rejection of all injustices which today seek their justification in the ‘culture of discarding’ a pandemic disease of the contemporary world,” the pope said.
“This opposition is seen as a first act of justice, especially when she manages to give voice to those ‘without voices.’ And among the latter are the migrants, the refugees and the displaced, who are ignored, exploited, raped and abused in the guilty silence of many.
“It is not enough to just denounce injustices, but that it is also necessary for all to work together to identify concrete solutions, while equitably sharing the responsibilities to help asylum seekers and refugees.”
An inspiring example of this Gospel response to the cry of the poor is happening in El Paso, Texas, at the U.S.-Mexico border. Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso writes, “Here in El Paso, we have seen a large uptick in the number of those passing across our border. Border Patrol and ICE were seeing such large numbers that their holding cells were 200 percent beyond capacity. People were being forced to live in very inhuman conditions without even the space to lie down or to shower.”
So the Diocese of El Paso decided to open its religious education building and then the diocesan center as shelters for hundreds of refugees coming across the border and is providing parish volunteers to care for them. Bishop Seitz said, “It will be a big challenge, but also a great opportunity to witness to our broader community about the way we live our Faith.”
Another example just happened here in Hawaii when communities of faith from all over Oahu collaborated with the University of Hawaii’s immigration clinic on a citizenship fair for migrants at the First United Methodist Church. These are some ways we all can be instruments of God, hearing and responding to the cry of the poor on the margins.
For more information please, visit our website www.officeforsocialministry.org.
Mahalo, Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
