blogtcs.com

Nearly five years ago, the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration and The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, INC. Board of Directors, made immigration reform a priority. The campaign, they decided, would emphasize  legalization of undocumented immigrants living in the United States illegally.

A diverse group of Catholic organizations with national networks joined the U.S. bishops’ in their campaign, called Justice for Immigrants: A Journey of Hope. The campaign united and mobilized a growing network of Catholic institutions, individuals, and other persons of good faith in support of a broad legalization program and comprehensive immigration reform. Its goal will be to maximize the Church’s influence on this issue, consistent with the immigration reform principles enunciated in the bishops’ pastoral letter.

Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas spoke about this effort April 28 during the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Phoenix.

The campaign’s primary objectives have been:

• To educate the public, especially the Catholic community, including Catholic public officials, about Church teaching on migration and immigrants;
• To create political will for positive immigration reform;
• To enact legislative and administrative reforms based on the principles articulated by the bishops; and
• To organize Catholic networks to assist qualified immigrants obtain the benefits of the reforms.

In 2005, the Arizona Catholic bishops released “You Welcomed Me,” a pastoral letter on migration. In it they outlined steps Catholics can take to respond to the immigration crisis through education and civil public discourse.

“The final principle underscoring all Church teachings on migration is that the human dignity and human rights of all migrants, regardless of their legal status, should be respected and upheld,” the bishops wrote.