US Catholic Bishops Condemn White House Border Policies
Via a rare public statement, America's Catholic bishop leadership has issued a strong condemnation of President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Formal Statement Reveals Serious Worry
Religious authorities expressed being disturbed by potential violations of the sanctity of churches and the protected status of medical facilities and educational institutions.
We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good.
Atmosphere of Anxiety
In their message, the church leaders described what they called "a atmosphere of anxiety around questions of profiling" and immigration enforcement.
They stated being saddened by the present discourse and demonization of foreign nationals, while resisting what they referred to as "the blanket expulsion of people."
Further Issues
Religious leaders also expressed serious worries about:
- Situations in border holding facilities
- Arbitrary removal of official documentation for certain immigrants
- Insufficiency in meaningful immigration reform
Administrative Shifts
The White House has advanced an aggressive immigration agenda since assuming power, including rescinding policies that limited immigration arrests near sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals and schools.
Worldwide Dimension
The declaration echoes comparable criticisms made by the Catholic pontiff, who has called for "serious consideration about the way foreign nationals are being treated in the US under the current administration."
Wider Consequences
This constitutes the first formal statement of its nature in 12 years, emphasizing the gravity of the religious authorities' apprehensions about current immigration policies.
