The Trump immigration crackdown is getting a response from a number of U.S. bishops from different corners of the country.
A few highlights are posted here.
Tuesday, New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan posted this video online:
Also this week, the bishops of Maryland released a statement:
The eight bishops include Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori; Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Apostolic Administrator of Washington; Wilmington Bishop William Koenig; and the state’s five auxiliary bishops.
“In Solidarity and Accompaniment” (“En Solidaridad y Acompañamiento”) comes days after a statewide workshop that provided information and resources addressing legal rights, practical support, and national policy. Speakers included national Catholic experts and a representative from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The bishops write, “In these challenging times, marked by anxiety, uncertainty, and change, we turn our hearts to the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Inspired by His example, we extend a message of comfort, hope, and unwavering solidarity to our immigrant brothers and sisters.
The Catholic Church, guided by Christ’s call to love and serve one another, recognizes the profound struggles faced by immigrant communities. Many of you carry heavy burdens — of separation, fear, and the unknown. Yet, you also bring with you the strength of your faith, the richness of your cultures, and the hope of building a better future for your families.
We want you to know that you are not alone. We stand with you, journeying alongside you in solidarity and accompaniment. We are here to offer compassionate care, to listen to your needs, and to advocate for justice on your behalf. The Church has always been a home for those in search of refuge and peace, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to welcome the stranger and embrace the vulnerable.
The bishops of Michigan also weighed in:
In a pastoral note to migrants released Monday in English and Spanish, all of the state’s 10 Catholic bishops said that supporting immigrants is rooted in their faith.
“Our fraternal closeness to you and other immigrants, refugees, and those seeking humanitarian asylum is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where we find ‘I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me … Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:35,40),” the note published Monday reads. “We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
Bishops from Texas issued a statement last week calling for a just and humane approach to immigration:
To the People of God in Texas,
The bishops of Texas will continue to work with government officials and other people of good will to implement policies that recognize the dignity of every person, prioritize family unity, and address the root causes of forced migration, while respecting the right and responsibility of our country to secure its borders, regulate immigration in an orderly process, maintain the rule of law, and keep its communities safe and peaceful.
In exercising the basic human right of religious liberty, all Catholics, regardless of national origin or citizenship status, have a right to gather for the celebration of Mass and to receive the Sacraments without harassment or intimidation. Our priests, deacons, and lay ministers are available to provide pastoral services, to offer the Sacraments, humanitarian support, and to provide spiritual graces that God desires for all his people. As the bishops of Texas, we stand in solidarity with the earlier statements issued by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration :
“The Catholic Church is committed to defending the sanctity of every human life and the God-given dignity of each person, regardless of nationality or immigration status. Church teaching recognizes a country’s right and responsibility to promote public order, safety, and security through well-regulated borders and just limits on immigration. However, as shepherds, we cannot abide injustice, and we stress that national self-interest does not justify policies with consequences that are contrary to the moral law. The use of sweeping generalizations to denigrate any group, such as describing all undocumented immigrants as ‘criminals’ or ‘invaders,’ to deprive them of protection under the law, is an affront to God, who has created each of us in his own image . Pope Francis has stated , ‘No one will ever openly deny that [migrants] are human beings, yet in practice, by our decisions and the way we treat them, we can show that we consider them less worthy, less important, less human. For Christians, this way of thinking and acting is unacceptable.’
