President of US Conference of Catholic Bishops: separating immigrant families is immoral.

[pnwmom]

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/catholic-bishops-immigration_us_5b212ee8e4b0adfb82701fa3?utm_source=main_fb&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063&utm_medium=facebook§ion=politics&utm_campaign=hp_fb_pages

A top Catholic bishop condemned the Trump administration’s immigration policies on Wednesday, calling the separation of immigrant families “immoral” and saying a recent change in policy “will erode the capacity of asylum to save lives.”

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, made the statement during the organization’s spring general assembly. It’s the latest criticism from within the Catholic Church directed at the harsh immigration enforcement tactics under President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, DiNardo focused on two parts of Trump’s border crackdown: the “zero tolerance” policy for illegal entries that leads to children being split from their parents and Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision earlier this week that “generally” asylum-seekers should not receive relief on the basis of domestic or gang violence.



SNIP

Cardinal DiNardo said the U.S. should use discretion to keep young children from being “exposed to irreparable harm and trauma” of being split from their parents.

[maxsolomon]

1. But still, 'Bortions is worse.

So keep voting GOP!

Take away their tax-exempt status.

[pnwmom]

2. Under Pope Francis, the Church has shifted away from its previous focus

on birth control, abortions, and sexuality.

He very rarely mentions any of that, compared to his concern about poverty and refugees.

[maxsolomon]

3. That's the Pope

Not the US Bishops. Not the RCC Churches my Trumpist Catholic relatives attend. All that matters is Abortion (more specifically, other people's abortions).

This statement itself uses "Right to Life" to advocate for Asylum, no?

[pnwmom]

4. The Catholic Church has always put its concern about abortion

into its "seamless garment" philosophy.

The Church's teaching was that life should be protected and supported from the beginning to the end. Including the lives of children. Including the lives of disabled. Including the lives of the elderly. Including the lives of the poor.

Your Trumpist relatives think the protection of life should end with birth, but that's never been the Church's position.

(Catholics are as likely to have abortions as the US population overall, and the majority of Catholics are more pro-choice than they are pro-life.)

[maxsolomon]

11. The RCC uses a lot of the right words

but they won't mobilize catholics to march against this policy.

I'd like to be wrong, but I lack faith.

[pnwmom]

12. Marching isn't the only way to act. They're doing more than marching.

Churches across the country are educating their parishioners and continuing to assist refugees directly.

http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week/index.cfm

January 7-13, 2018 - Many Journeys, One Family

For nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week, which is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking. The theme for National Migration Week 2017, "Many Journeys, One Family," draws attention to the fact that each of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past. Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another.

Unfortunately, in our contemporary culture we often fail to encounter migrants as persons, and instead look at them as unknown others, if we even notice them at all. We do not take the time to engage migrants in a meaningful way, as fellow children of God, but remain aloof to their presence and suspicious or fearful of them. During this National Migration Week, let us all take the opportunity to engage migrants as community members, neighbors, and friends.

http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week/upload/2018-NMW-Final-Toolkit.pdf

Here are a couple examples from McAllen, Texas and Seattle, WA.

https://www.catholicextension.org/stories/building-humanitarian-respite-center-mcallen

For the past three years, the Humanitarian Respite Center--created to provide a way-station for asylum seekers from Central American countries moving through McAllen, Texas--has been generously housed in the parish hall of Sacred Heart Church in McAllen.

Thanks in part to a Catholic Extension grant of $100,000, a new facility will be built to continue the work of the respite center, which has assisted more than 74,000 people since its creation in June 2014.

SNIP

Many asylum seekers to the U.S. come from Central America, fleeing extreme violence and poverty. The three most represented countries are Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

The center, which is moving to an interim location until the new building is constructed, offers the following services to asylum seekers:

Warm shower & bathroom facilities
Beds (for those who have to spend the night)
Clothes, shoes and infant essentials, such as diapers
Phone services, so that asylum seekers can contact family members
Safety courses on traveling and living in the U.S.

At St. James Cathedral in Seattle:

http://www.stjames-cathedral.org/immigrant/GetInvolved/Volunteer.aspx

ESL Tutor
6-month commitment / twice a week
Provide one-to-one English language instruction and cross-cultural orientation in an on-site tutoring room or at an off-site community location. To volunteer as a tutor you must be at least 18 years old and fluent in English.

Citizenship Tutor
6-month commitment / twice a week
Provide instruction based on U.S. History and Civics to help students prepare for the United States citizenship exam. To volunteer as a citizenship tutor you must be at least 18 years old and fluent in English.

Immigration Emergency Response Team
Join our team of volunteers ready to spring into action in the event of a local immigration raid. Can you help provide hospitality? Are you fluent in a language in addition to English? Would you be willing to help families gather important family documents? We also need people willing to provide prayers or a comforting presence, and to help in other ways. We are especially in need of Notaries Public and Family Law practitioners.

Elder Integration Companion
Provide conversation and friendship on field trips to museums and parks, or share special interests and skills in informal presentations to Elder Integration Groups. Groups meet throughout King County at various locations during day time hours.

Interpreter/Translator
Commitment: As needed.
Assist staff, volunteers, and clients to effectively communicate with one another. Contacting and meeting with prospective clients to assist with intake, calling past clients to gather information regarding their experience and satisfaction with the program, or calling current clients when requested. Translation of simple documents as requested.


And they are also urging parishioners to participate in the June 20th World Refugee Day.

https://www.sharejourney.org/

https://www.sharejourney.org/resource-library/world-refugee-day/

June 20 is World Refugee Day
Community Engagement Ideas
Engage your Elected Leaders and Advocate for Refugees

Participate in the calls to action produced by the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, Catholics Confront Global Poverty, Share the Journey, and Catholic Charities USA to make your voice heard by your members of Congress.

Use this World Refugee Day Advocacy Tool Kit

Read Pope Francis’ 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees message

Become Active in Your Local Community and Parish

VOLUNTEER OR ORGANIZE A COLLECTION TO HELP REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Find your local Catholic Charities agency in the U.S.

“POWR FROM A TO Z” RESOURCE COLLECTION FROM PARISHES ORGANIZED TO WELCOME REFUGEES (POWR) PROGRAM

The USCCB/MRS launched the Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees (POWR) program to intensify volunteer involvement in resettlement, at the parish level. POWR’s goal is to develop long-term, sustainable programs.

POWR PROJECT SUMMARY (2018)
Find out about what’s happening locally with Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees (POWR). Directory is organized by city.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING – PARISHES ORGANIZED TO WELCOME REFUGEES
These materials explain the pre- and post-arrival process to volunteers, donors and parish partners, as well as provide some concrete ideas how POWR teams can help. The document includes population-specific food supply lists, a home safety check list, Frequently Asked Questions for volunteers and much more.

COUNTERING “ALTERNATIVE FACTS” WITH FACTS
Talking Points to provide your community with facts about refugees. This resource may be useful as you are making the case for refugees in your parishes and communities.

PARISH RESETTLEMENT MINISTRY MANUAL
Everything you need to know to plan for and organize your parish to Welcome Refugees.

THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT CURRICULUM
The Refugee Resettlement Ministry Curriculum is a K-12 Catholic School curriculum developed at Catholic Charities of Jacksonville, which is designed to raise awareness for the refugee cause. It can easily be replicated elsewhere.

[maxsolomon]

13. sounds like you're very involved.

good luck.

[pnwmom]

6. There are many Catholics on DU and this is bigotry directed against them.

And the leadership of the Church has been strongly supporting refugees.

[NightWatcher]

7. Aren't they an organization that concealed child rape?

I care not about their feelings. Did they care about the children?

[pnwmom]

8. "They." There are individuals that did many wrong things. But you're condemning

all Catholics, including the many Catholic DUers, because of the actions of some.

Do you condemn all Democrats because some have committed crimes?

[msongs]

9. unless anyone in the family is lgbt nt

[Kingofalldems]

10. Let's see what Ryan, Gingrich et all have to say.