Today I assisted and preached at two Masses to celebrate the
feast of Saint Anthony of Padua. But at the prayer of the faithful in the first Mass, I added a
prayer for migrants, especially since I know that one bright young man from
that village is in the US.
But I nearly cried as I prayed for a change of heart
for the US. Thinking of the policy of separating families, my heart filled with
lament in the face of such inhumane – and sinful – policy. I prayed that we
might build bridges, not walls.
This expression of grief is the result of pent-up anger and
sorrow over US immigration policy and the results in the lives of so many.
I thought of the article on the Honduran who killed himself when separated
from his family. Then there was the article that mentioned a Honduran child separated
from his mother. An article earlier this week detailed the horror a Honduras
boy experienced separated from his father.
I do not know what is happening but in the last month I have
heard more of persons trying to get to the US, of persons deported, and of some
who have made it there. People ask prayers for their loved ones at Mass. Others
just mention to me that so and so is in the US.
After the second Mass, I spoke with a young man I knew. He
told me that his wife and one child have been in the US for about two months.
She was detained but now is released with a tracking device. Thanks be to God
the child is with his mother. He wants to join her – but I warned him about the
new policy.
Later, talking with some of the men I heard of a case that
has me reeling. A man with his son was arrested in the US by immigration
agents. They were separated. The father was deported and he does not know where
his child is. I don’t know the age of the child, but this is a crime against humanity.
I cry for my country. I fear for a country that separates children
from parents in such a way. I beg forgiveness from God and from all those affected
by these actions.
God have mercy on us.
The words of Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap, Archbishop of
Boston, speak eloquently:
by the order of
the U. S. government, individuals with children and families with children who
are seeking asylum at the southern border of the United States now have their
children separated from their parents. The intent of this policy is clear: to
discourage those seeking asylum by severing the most sacred human bond of
parent and child. Children are now being used as a deterrent against immigrants
who are appealing to us for asylum in order to protect themselves and their
families. As disturbing as this fact is, the narrative of this development
makes clear the misguided moral logic of the policy.
These individuals and families are fleeing documented violence, chaos and murder in the neighborhoods of Central America. The United States is now openly before the world using children as pawns to enforce a hostile immigration policy. This strategy is morally unacceptable and denies the clear danger weighing upon those seeking our assistance.
As a Catholic bishop, I support political and legal authority. I have always taught respect for the civil law and will continue to do so. But, I cannot be silent when our country's immigration policy destroys families, traumatizes parents, and terrorizes children. The harmful and unjust policy of separating children from their parents must be ended.
These individuals and families are fleeing documented violence, chaos and murder in the neighborhoods of Central America. The United States is now openly before the world using children as pawns to enforce a hostile immigration policy. This strategy is morally unacceptable and denies the clear danger weighing upon those seeking our assistance.
As a Catholic bishop, I support political and legal authority. I have always taught respect for the civil law and will continue to do so. But, I cannot be silent when our country's immigration policy destroys families, traumatizes parents, and terrorizes children. The harmful and unjust policy of separating children from their parents must be ended.
The support of the US bishops meeting today in Florida for a
strong statement by Cardinal DiNArdo against this and the new government policy regarding victims of
domestic violence and gang violence offers a bit of hope.
Fort Lauderdale, FL—"At its core, asylum is an instrument to preserve the right to life. The Attorney General's recent decision elicits deep concern because it potentially strips asylum from many women who lack adequate protection. These vulnerable women will now face return to the extreme dangers of domestic violence in their home country. This decision negates decades of precedents that have provided protection to women fleeing domestic violence. Unless overturned, the decision will erode the capacity of asylum to save lives, particularly in cases that involve asylum seekers who are persecuted by private actors. 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.
Additionally, I join Bishop Joe Vásquez, Chairman of USCCB's 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. Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma. Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together. While protecting our borders is important, we can and must do better as a government, and as a society, to find other ways to ensure that safety. Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral."'
The call of one
bishop to consider canonical penalties is really encouraging.
But I am still nearly crying – and we should all take up the
prophetic stance of lamentation. Maybe it is time for a “cry-in” at federal
offices.
Posts
