(Adnkronos) – “We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed against migrants or law enforcement.” Thus, the American Catholic bishops take a clear stance against the deportation campaign of Donald Trump’s administration, whose leadership includes many Catholics, starting with Vice President DJ Vance, with a ‘special message’, a rarely used pastoral document, which was approved with 216 votes in favor, 5 against, and 3 abstentions, to applause from the Episcopal Conference gathered in Baltimore.
“As Catholic bishops, we love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity, precisely for this reason, we feel it is our duty in this situation to raise our voice in defense of God-given human dignity,” continues the statement from the American bishops who, after often being divided on American politics during Pope Francis’ pontificate, now show a united front following Leo XIV, the first American Pope who spoke in defense of migrants in the USA.
In the document, the bishops now state they are “uneasy at seeing a climate of fear and anxiety among our people” due to the methods adopted by ICE in stopping people solely based on their race. “We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the defamation of migrants,” the bishops further write, which also sounds like a reference to Trump’s continuous social media attacks, though he is never directly named. And finally, the bishops state they are “concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of pastoral care,” referring to the fact that ICE agents have prevented priests from giving communion to detained migrants.
“We lament the fact that some immigrants in the USA have arbitrarily lost their legal status, we are concerned about threats to the sanctity of places of worship and the special nature of schools and hospitals,” the document continues, referring to the fact that the Trump administration abolished the measure that prohibited ICE from raiding churches, schools, and hospitals.
“We weep when we meet parents who fear being arrested when taking their children to school and when we try to comfort family members of those who have already been separated from their loved ones,” conclude the American bishops who, during the meeting in Baltimore, also announced the “You are not alone” campaign, through which Catholics across the country can offer help and solidarity to migrants. The Trump administration has deported 400,000 people this year and holds approximately 60,000 in detention centers.
When asked for comment, the White House, whose principal spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt is Catholic, responded to the bishops’ document with a statement from another spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson: “President Trump was elected based on the many promises made to Americans, including that of deporting criminal illegal migrants. He is keeping the promises made to America.” The last time the American bishops issued a special message was in 2013, with a stance against the measure to mandate health coverage for contraceptives under Obamacare.
