Bishops express concern for families, urge fair policies and secure borders in letter through Michigan Catholic Conference
LANSING — The bishops of Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses on Jan. 27 offered their “continued pastoral and prayerful support” for immigrants living and working in the state, encouraging “policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united” while calling for secure borders and fair immigration laws that keep human dignity top of mind.
The Michigan bishops’ statement, issued through the Michigan Catholic Conference, the official public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Michigan, emphasized closeness with those who express “anxiety and fear” over mass deportation proposals and “harmful rhetoric” targeting immigrant communities.
“As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst,” the bishops’ statement said.
The bishops urged elected officials, particularly Michigan’s U.S. congressional delegation, to prioritize the safety and protection of immigrant families, especially “those who arrived as children,” as well as refugees seeking humanitarian asylum and fleeing violence and oppression.
The bishops called on elected leaders to work toward a “humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship,” while at the same time keeping “borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs.”
Specifically addressing migrants living in fear, the bishops encouraged individuals to find strength and solace in Jesus Christ, whose words of hope give strength in times of trouble, as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe, who hears “the cries of the suffering.”
“Mindful of the dire conditions from which many travel, oftentimes with children through great difficulty and despair, we encourage you, our migrant brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by our Lord’s words ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid’ (John 14:27),” the bishops said. “Never fail to keep your faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, who promises a divine kingdom that we strive to inherit and together call our true home.”
The bishops’ statement was accompanied by a series of questions and answers clarifying Catholic teaching on immigration, including whether the Church supports “open borders” or illegal immigration — neither is the case, it said.
“The Catechism clearly states that political authorities ‘may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions’ (No. 2241). This includes a sovereign country’s right to regulate and secure its borders. The Church does maintain, however, that this right must always be balanced with the duty to welcome newcomers with charity and respect for the human person, as well as the rights to life and religious liberty,” it said.
The Church encourages the use of “lawful immigration pathways” and affirms the rule of law, it said, but clarified that the current U.S. immigration system “is inadequate to address the needs of American families, employers, and communities, as well as the immigrants themselves.”
Regarding mass deportations, the Q&A clarified that “(t)he U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has consistently supported increased opportunities for legal immigration and the protection for immigrants’ due process rights, while opposing an enforcement-only approach to immigration.”
Enforcement should be “targeted, proportionate, and humane, and deportations should always be carried out with due regard for families, community ties, and religious liberty interests,” it added.
The Church, through its humanitarian and charitable service organizations, continues to provide for the basic human needs of migrants “because all people are made in God’s image and likeness and inherently possess human dignity,” the Q&A added.
“There is no evidence or research indicating that the humanitarian and religious services provided by Catholic organizations incentivize unlawful migration, as there are varied and often complex factors that influence a person’s decision to migrate from their home country, including war, persecution, violence, lack of jobs, famines, and natural disasters,” it said.
To read the full statement and frequently asked questions from the bishops of Michigan, visit the Michigan Catholic Conference’s website.
