US Roman Catholic Bishops Condemn White House Border Enforcement
Via a rare formal message, America's Catholic bishop leadership has released a strong condemnation of the White House's immigration policies.
Formal Statement Reveals Deep Concern
Church leaders stated being disturbed by risks to the sacred nature of houses of worship and the unique character of medical facilities and educational institutions.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Atmosphere of Anxiety
Through their statement, the bishops portrayed what they called "a climate of fear around questions of profiling" and immigration enforcement.
They revealed being disheartened by the ongoing debate and vilification of foreign nationals, while opposing what they called "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Further Issues
Church authorities also voiced major apprehensions about:
- Circumstances in border holding facilities
- Random revocation of legal status for various foreign nationals
- Insufficiency in substantial border policy changes
Policy Changes
Federal authorities has advanced an stringent border policy since taking office, including revoking policies that restricted immigration arrests near sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals and schools.
Worldwide Dimension
The statement mirrors similar critiques made by the Catholic pontiff, who has advocated for "deep reflection about the way immigrants are being addressed in the US under the current administration."
Extended Ramifications
This constitutes the first special message of its kind in more than ten years, underscoring the gravity of the religious authorities' apprehensions about current immigration policies.
