ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ CALLS IMMIGRATION REFORM ‘A CHALLENGE TO OUR CONSCIENCE AND MEASURE OF OUR HUMANITY

April 18, 2013  |  By: newsroom  |  Press Releases  |  

 As the debate on the new bipartisan legislation to reform the U.S. immigration system begins, Archbishop José H. Gomez calls our nation’s response “a challenge to our conscience and a measure of our humanity.”

In his weekly message to the approximately five million faithful of the Archdiocese in the Archdiocesan newspaper, The Tidings, Archbishop Gomez called on Catholics to “try to live our faith during these important debates.”

“Many people still don’t understand the Church’s commitment to this cause,” stated Archbishop Gomez. “For me it’s a question of human rights and human dignity. It is a question of who we are as people and as a nation…

“…We are a nation of laws. But for almost twenty years, our nation chose not to enforce our laws. We looked the other way because we needed these immigrants for our construction companies, service industries and farms. That’s a difficult truth. These men and women came here to work — and all of us have been depending on and benefitting from their work….

“…The U.S. Bishops believe that real reform means providing a generous path to citizenship and a system that supports families and children.

“We want reforms so that immigrant families can remain together. We want reforms so that migrant farmworkers and others are not exploited. And we want reforms so our brothers and sisters can live with the dignity that God intends for them.”

 

The full text of the Archbishop’s column follows this release.