Thread: Priests group pledges to speak out for undocumented immigran

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http://www.catholic.org/national/nat...y.php?id=21786

Priests group pledges to speak out for undocumented immigrants
10/27/2006

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
CHICAGO, Ill. (Catholic Online) – Recently passed U.S. congressional “enforcement-only” immigration legislation places tens of thousands of undocumented families at immediate risk of deportation or separation, according to a U.S. clergy group.

More than 50 priests representing the church’s Latino and Polish-, African- and Irish-American communities of the Chicago Archdiocese gathered Oct. 20 at Holy Name Cathedral here discussed their concerns about congressional measures that will adversely affect immigrants currently in the United States as workers, spouses and family members.

Priests for Justice for Immigration, made up of a group of about 120 clergy of the archdiocese, works to raise issues regarding immigration policy and to support “responsible and respectful comprehensive immigration reform, inclusive of respective, human border controls.”

In a statement received by Catholic Online, the priests’ organization outlined four pledges and said its members are “compelled by our conviction in faith and our respect for the dignity and sanctity of every human life, and saddened by the current congressional leadership's passage of enforcement-only legislation which totally ignores the disheartened spirits of the immigrants among us who daily contribute their gifts to this country.”

Noting that the status of undocumented is in part “the result of a long-broken immigration system,” the Priests for Justice for Immigration pledged to “listen and respond in faith to the tragic stories of families and individuals faced with terrible choices due to an unresolved immigration status.”

The priests’ group said it will work to increase awareness that 98,000 known families and countless others might be deported or separated due to congressional action.

The Priests for Justice for Immigration called for “a suspension of any non-felony deportations which would separate spouses, or separate children from parents or guardians, until a comprehensive immigration policy is passed by Congress.”

The priest members said that they will work educate parish leaders and other faithful about “the contributions and struggles of our undocumented brothers and sisters through our preaching” and other communications efforts.

The clergy immigration group called on “our brother priests” during October, as Respect Life Month, and especially on Oct. 29 to celebrate the Eucharist “with special emphasis on prayer to defend the rights of all families to be free of fear, to economic security, and to share in the rights that will maintain and support healthy family life.”

At the cathedral press conference, Auxiliary Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of Chicago praised “church leaders who are committing themselves to walk a journey that will find our political leaders opening their hearts and minds to understanding the reality of today’s immigrants.”

There is a need “to reiterate the call for respectful and comprehensive immigration reform that respects the dignity of every human being and protects the dignity and unity of families,” said Father Marco Mercado, pastor of Chicago’s Good Shepherd Church and a core leader of the Priests for Justice for Immigrants.

In a keynote address, Father Larry Dowling, pastor of Chicago’s St. Denis Parish and a core leader of the group, that the priests will “accompany our undocumented brothers and sisters in their journeys to acknowledge that their status is the result of a long-broken immigration system.”

Father Casimir Garbacz, director of the archdiocese’s Office for European Catholics, commissioned each clergy member of the Priests for Justice for Immigrants to aid the area’s undocumented immigrants, asking that they display the organization’s four pledges “in a prominent place” in each of their parishes.

On Oct. 23, Congress sent a bill authorizing construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border to President George W. Bush, who signed it Oct. 26.

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The following is the statement of purpose, including the four pledges, of the Priests for Justice for Immigrants:

We, the Priests for Justice for Immigrants, compelled by our conviction in faith and our respect for the dignity and sanctity of every human life, and saddened by the current congressional leadership's passage of enforcement-only legislation which totally ignores the disheartened spirits of the immigrants among us who daily contribute their gifts to this country, continue to work to influence the public conversation regarding immigration policy, and to support responsible, respectful comprehensive immigration reform, inclusive of respectful, humane border controls.

We pledge to:

- Accompany our undocumented brothers and sisters on their journey and to acknowledge that their current status is, in part, the result of a long-broken immigration system; we will listen and respond in faith to the tragic stories of families and individuals faced with terrible choices due to an unresolved immigration status;

- Educate our brothers and sisters in parish leadership as well as all people of our parishes – highlighting the contributions and struggles of our undocumented brothers and sisters through our preaching, through written and video materials, and through providing opportunities for the personal witness of undocumented workers;

- Increase awareness that 98,000 known families are at immediate risk of separation/deportation and countless unknown families who might be torn apart and call for a suspension of any non-felony deportations which would separate spouses, or separate children from parents or guardians, until a comprehensive immigration policy is passed by Congress;

- Ask our brother priests to celebrate the Eucharist during Respect Life Month (October), particularly on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, with special emphasis on prayer to defend the rights of all families to be free of fear, to economic security, and to share in the rights that will maintain and support healthy family life.

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