Cardinal Cupich: We oppose any immigrant mass deportation plan

Cardinal Cupich: We oppose any immigrant mass deportation plan

Vatican news

Cardinal Cupich addresses reports of possible mass expulsions of undocumented people in the Chicago area and reiterates the Catholic Church’s commitment to human dignity, justice and the rights of migrants and asylum seekers.

By Linda Bordoni

Expressing concern over the new US administration’s announced plans to implement mass deportations targeting the Chicago area, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago said such action would be “not only deeply disturbing, but would also deeply hurt us.” “.

“The Catholic community stands with Chicagoans to defend the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers. Likewise, if this information is true, we should know that we will oppose any plan that includes a mass expulsion of American citizens born to undocumented parents,” he declared.

In a statement issued Sunday in Mexico City, where he is making a pilgrimage, the cardinal wished the new government administration every success in promoting the common good. He nonetheless denounced reports circulating of possible mass evictions targeting the area and said such actions would betray the city’s immigration legacy.

Cardinal Cupich’s statement comes on the eve of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who pledged to implement a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration immediately after being sworn in on Monday.

Chicago is considered a “sanctuary” jurisdiction that limits cooperation with federal immigration officials.

The cardinal noted that Chicago, like much of the United States, owes its vibrancy and diversity to generations of immigrants. “There is no one in Chicago, except indigenous people, who has not benefited from this heritage,” he noted.

Call to awareness and action

Cardinal Cupich stressed the importance of balancing legal immigration enforcement with the defense of dignity and human rights, noting: “We support the legitimate efforts of law enforcement to protect the safety and security of safety of our communities – crime cannot be tolerated when committed by immigrants or long-time citizens. .”

However, he emphasized that the Church “vigorously supports local and state legislation aimed at protecting the rights of immigrants in Illinois.”

And expressing strong opposition to reports of expulsions of children born in the United States to undocumented parents, he said it would constitute an affront to basic human rights and an attack on the family unit.

Global and pastoral perspective

Citing Pope Francis, Cardinal Cupich called for migration governance that respects human rights and avoids indiscriminate expulsions.

“We quickly forget that we are dealing with people with faces and names,” he said, reiterating the Pope’s warning against repatriating individuals to countries where they face serious threats .

“Millions of migrants are fleeing their countries for safer shores precisely because it is a matter of life and death for them and their children,” he said.

Places of worship as sanctuaries

The Chicago cardinal affirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting sacred spaces from immigration enforcement activities. He referred to the sensitive locations policy, in force since 2011, which discourages coercive measures in places such as churches and schools.

“For members of religious communities, threats of mass expulsions also pose the burning question: ‘What is God saying to us right now?’ “, he asked, calling for a collective examination of conscience.

Invitation to dialogue and solidarity

Cardinal Cupich’s statement concluded with a call for dialogue and solutions that honor both the rule of law and the dignity of every person:

“Believers are called to defend the rights of others and remind society of its obligation to care for those in need,” he said, adding that “should the reported mass and indiscriminate expulsions take place , it would be an affront to the dignity of all people and all communities, and deny the heritage of what it means to be American.

Vatican news

sc

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *