Catholic Church stands with refugees
A July 28 letter to the editor asked: Where is the Catholic Church on the refugees at the border? The answer is that the Catholic Church is with the refugees, both literally and figuratively.
We bishops have spoken and lobbied consistently and persistently on behalf of the rights of refugees and immigrants. The most recent statement of the leadership of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, on July 25, called for reversal of the expanded “expedited removal” process for migrants suspected of being undocumented. Our immigration website, justice for immigrants. org, offers resources for helping migrants in our communities.
Here in Pittsburgh, I have made multiple statements clearly identifying the cause of refugees as a pressing, prolife issue. As the Post- Gazette reported shortly after the annual March for Life, I stated, “We so proudly marched last week in defense of human life. We must now stand up for those immigrants and refugees who are looking to come to America. Some of them are quite literally fleeing for their lives.” Whenever the church speaks of respect life issues, that must also include concern for refugees and all who are marginalized in our society.
Locally, Casa San Jose is a Catholic ministry of welcome to Latino immigrants. I urge everyone who wants to support our immigrant neighbors to consider opportunities to assist that organization.
However, much of the hands- on work to aid refugees is done by Catholic dioceses and ministries in the border states, as well as Catholic Charities USA. On July 20, the PG ran a story about the visit of several U. S. senators to border detention facilities, in which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. D- N. Y., singled out Catholic Charities for running the “one good place ... where the people were treated well, where they had a path where they could be adjudicated and given a fair shot.” He noted that the facilities run by other organizations “aren’t close to that.”
As bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, I urge everyone who is concerned about the rights of refugees to look into these resources and become involved. The refugee that you aid may be Jesus in disguise.
BISHOP DAVID ZUBIK Catholic Diocese
of Pittsburgh