OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY “It is not just about migrants … it is about not excluding anyone.” (Pope Francis, World Day of Migrants and Refugees) In celebration of the Vatican’s 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Sept. 29, Pope Francis called us to “encounter God at the margins.” In response, the U.S. Conference of […]
Bishops blame U.S. policies for child deaths at border
By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in an op-ed cast blame on government policies for recent child deaths near the U.S.-Mexico border. In a June 30 op-ed published by The Hill newspaper in Washington, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of […]
Mary Adamski: Imagine Hawaii without immigrants
VIEW FROM THE PEW There was a piquant hint of exotic cultural flavor adding nuance to heavier undertones of current events that made our feast the successful fusion sought by its creative chefs. Oops, I was trying to mock the pretentious tone of a trendy foodie reviewer but that didn’t work. I should just say […]
As immigration woes rise, Congress grasps at solutions
By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Bipartisan disagreement on how to fix the country’s immigration system led to failure once again as lawmakers on Capitol Hill turned down one immigration bill June 21 and postponed a vote on a second proposal, which also has a slim opportunity of passing. Each side blamed the […]
Bishops receive hundreds of calls offering foster care for detained kids
By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Maybe it was the request by the Pentagon for 20,000 mattresses as military bases become, at least partly, shelters for detained border crossers. Maybe it was the federal government report that 2,342 children had been separated from 2,206 parents at the U.S.-Mexico border between May 5 and […]
U.S. Catholics urged to appeal to Congress to pass DACA bill now
By Julie Asher Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — By day’s end Feb. 15, members of the U.S. Senate had rejected four immigration proposals, leaving it unclear how lawmakers will address overall immigration reform and keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in place. Late that afternoon, Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New […]
Hawaii Catholic leaders add to backlash against Trump’s refugee executive order
By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald A number of Catholic leaders in Hawaii have added their voices to the critical backlash against President Donald Trump’s Jan. 27 executive order banning immigrants and refugees from seven mostly Muslim nations. The directive created a firestorm of controversy as it initially blocked the entry of refugees slated to […]