During a biannual meeting held from February 26-28 at Assumption
Seminary in San Antonio, bishops from both sides of the border convened to
discuss their shared mission, with a particular focus on the "situation of
migrants and refugees." This year's gathering took on heightened relevance
given the new federal administrations in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Bishop Eugenio Andrés Lira RugarcÃa of Matamoros-Reynosa,
Mexico, and Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, jointly addressed the
assembly, outlining a "pastoral response to the current migration crisis
from the border."
In their statement, the bishops emphasized the Catholic Church's
long-standing commitment to supporting vulnerable populations. "We want to
make it clear that the Catholic Church has always been a reliable partner of
our governments, of our peoples and especially of all those in need, through
processes to welcome, protect, promote and integrate the vulnerable," they
declared.
This declaration comes at a time when the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been actively challenging the Trump
administration's immigration policies. The USCCB filed suit against the
administration for abruptly suspending and then terminating its refugee
resettlement contract, a move that significantly impacted the ability to provide
essential services to refugees. Furthermore, the administration's efforts to
strip federal funds from organizations like Catholic Charities, which provide
crucial humanitarian aid to immigrants, have been met with legal challenges.
The bishops' statement addressed the need for a balanced
approach to immigration, stating, "We are all together responsible in
promoting the common good, simultaneously safeguarding the dignity of all by
finding the right balance between various human rights, such as the right of
workers and their families to have their situation regularized, the right not
to be exploited, the right to migrate, the right not to need to migrate, and
the right of all to have their government guarantee security in their own
country."
They also reiterated their long-standing call for comprehensive
immigration reform. "For decades, we have expressed our concern that in
the United States we have a broken immigration system, which does not
correspond to the present reality. We hope and strongly urge our political
leaders to fulfill their duty to reform it," they asserted.
Addressing migrants and refugees directly, the bishops offered a
message of support and solidarity: "To our migrant and refugee brothers
and sisters, we want to say that the Church and its agencies remain committed
to the mission of announcing the Gospel, providing living witness to the
charity of the Lord Jesus by serving all people with dignity and
compassion."
The bishops drew inspiration from Pope Francis's call to emulate
the Good Samaritan, emphasizing the universal call to compassion and service.
Archbishop Gustavo GarcÃa-Siller of San Antonio highlighted the Pope's
encouragement to "continue doing all in our possibilities to support
migrants and refugees," treating them with the dignity they deserve.
Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, stressed the
importance of spiritual support and community accompaniment for immigrants
facing fear and insecurity.
In a continuation of this support, a "National Novena for
Migrants and Immigrants" will be held online from March 14-22, led by a
group of U.S. bishops, including Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Joseph
Tobin of Newark, New Jersey. This nine-day Lenten prayer service, organized by
the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, aims to foster solidarity and remind
people of the dignity of migrants and the Christian duty to welcome the
stranger.
These actions by Catholic leaders underscore the ongoing
commitment to advocating for humane and just immigration policies, and to providing
vital support to those affected by the current crisis.
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