“God our Father,
who called Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini from Italy
to serve the immigrants of America,
by her example,
teach us to have concern for the stranger,
the sick, and all those in need,
and by her prayers help us to see Christ
in all the men and women we meet.”

Today the Church remembers Mother Cabrini and her great work serving the immigrant population of the United States in the 19th Century. I am reminded of the many people in our Diocese who work tirelessly to serve and assist our immigrant population, especially those in most need of our help, in the same spirit -- recognizing in them the very presence of Christ.

The U.S. Supreme Court has chosen to take up the question of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), instituted in 2012 by executive order, issuing temporary work permits to teenagers and young adults brought to the U.S. illegally as children. While the questions of law focus on the role and limits of executive authority, we, as people of faith who see the face of Christ in all we help, must remember the real and tragic implications at stake for nearly 700,000 people who were brought to our country at an early age and who grew up here in the United States. These individuals are already woven into the very fabric of our country – as students, employees, parents to their own children, even soldiers.

No good purpose is served by turning away these “Dreamers,” destroying families and belatedly taking away that opportunity to continue to live the American Dream. This issue clearly demonstrates that both additional thought and compassion is necessary in our decision making. To this end, I stand firmly with my brother bishops in calling for comprehensive U.S. immigration reform, and with them, I implore all parties in Congress and the Executive branch to find a timely, fair, and workable solution that above all respects the incomparable dignity and inherent worth of those who are impacted. 

+ Bishop Robert J. Brennan

PDF of Statement

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