As I listened to Juan, I was struck by his capacity for acceptance and fidelity. He wishes that he could receive the sacraments, but that has not led him to resentment towards the church.
Immigration
Posted inDispatches
Trump administration sets a refugee limit, prioritizing white South Africans
The U.S. Refugee admissions threshold of 17,500 reflects an 80 percent decrease from the historical average across decades of both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations alike.
Posted inShort Take
My ancestors came through Ellis Island. Today’s migrants have no such option.
I am grateful that my Italian great-grandparents could come to the United States and ultimately become citizens. But that pathway is almost impossible now.
Posted inThe Weekly Dispatch
St. Louis archdiocese sues DHS and ICE to bring sacraments to immigrant detainees
“Catholics receive the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the deprivation of these sacraments imposes real and immediate harm on Catholic detainees and priests,” the archdiocese said.
Posted inFaith and Reason
Many U.S. Catholics hold anti-migrant views. How can the church change their hearts and minds?
Studies show that the more religious you are, the more likely you are to hold negative views toward migration. This is a challenge to the Catholic Church—but also an opportunity.
Posted inDispatches
At Mass for Migrants, Washington’s Cardinal McElroy says public cannot ‘pass by’ plight of immigrants
“For the last year and a half,” Cardinal McElroy said, “the people of the United States have witnessed the suffering of the undocumented in our midst, purposely and strategically magnified by our government, and for the most part, we have simply passed on by.”
Posted inFaith and Reason
Pope Leo is focusing on children for the World Day of Migrants. So should we.
The current U.S. mass deportation campaign has increasingly affected immigrant families and their children—many of whom are U.S. citizens. Children and youth are silent victims.
Posted inFeatures
In Chicago, a Catholic community organizer is using faith to resist ICE
Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez helped found the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership in 2017. Now the group finds itself in court with the Trump administration.
Posted inNews
Catholic University theology professor joins Homeland Security as cultural outreach director
Chad Pecknold has been named principal director of cultural outreach for the agency’s Office for Partnership and Engagement.
Posted inNews
Top US bishop writes letter to Trump urging end to mass deportations of Haitians
Archbishop Coakley wrote: “I implore you to avoid further endangering innocent human life by ceasing the deportation of large numbers of people to Haiti at this time.”