Thread: Bishops: US Should THANK Illegals

Bishops: US Should THANK Illegals
'letter to immigrants' to be released Monday

q1019.com
by Jim Forsyth
Sunday, December 11, 2011

The nation's 33 Hispanic Roman Catholic Bishops Monday will release a letter which says that undocumented immigrants deserve the 'thanks' of the United States, 1200 WOAI news has learned.



The Bishops have come out in support of comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants before, but the letter to be released Monday by San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, who, along with Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez are the highest ranking Mexican Americans in the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, uses stronger language and goes further in offering support to immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally than ever before.



"We are well aware of the great sacrifice you make for your families' well being," portions of the letter addressed directly to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and released to 1200 WOAI news on Sunday read. "Despite your contributions to the well-being of our country, instead of receiving our thanks, you are often treated as criminals because you have violated current immigration laws."



The letter is being released on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the beloved patron said of Mexico and the Continental Americas. It is on December 12th that many immigrants to the U.S. from Latin America, who are overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, return to churches to reconnect with their heritage.



"This letter is pastoral in nature and is not about politics or programs," Garcia-Siller said. "It is my desire to offer comfort, kindness, and compassion to all immigrants who are suffering, especially at this time of year."



Garcia-Siller said he also wants to "assure immigrants of the solidarity and support of the Hispanic Bishops in the United States, and pledge to continue the advocacy of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for just reform of U.S. immigration policy."



He says the letter will express the Bishop’s ‘solidarity’ with the undocumented, and their ‘concern for their suffering.’



“In your suffering we see the face of Jesus Christ,” the letter says.

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