The stranger among us…
Archbishop Carlson has designated this weekend as Immigration Weekend. Let me share just a part of his letter to us priests, as well as some possible action steps.
In the context of contentious and complex policy is-sues such as migration, how do we approach this issue, and through what lens do we analyze the intricacies of the debate? When it comes to the immigrant can we embrace him or as the gospel commandment says love him as we love ourselves? How do we use our pastoral gifts of prayer and Catholic social teachings and action to best serve the needs of our new immigrants?
– –Archbishop Robert Carlson
The U.S. Senate has passed comprehensive immigration reform legislation by a large margin. The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering whether to address immigration reform legislation that can provide significant relief to potentially mil-lions of people and their families. Now is a critical time to contact your House members and urge them to pass common sense immigration reform.
The USCCB have urged congress to pass immigration reform which:
Provides a path to citizenship for undocumented persons living in the United States.
Preserves and strengthens family unity as a corner-stone of our national immigration system.
Provides legal avenues for low-skilled immigrants to come and work in the U.S.
Restores due process for individuals caught up in the immigration system.
Promotes efforts that will address the root causes of migration, such as poverty and persecution.
Please contact your House member today and urge them to support immigration reform legislation that provides a path to citizenship for the undocumented and that preserves family unity.
Action steps:
To send a pre-written, instant email to Congress, go to www.justiceforimmigrants.org.
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard and 202-225-3121 and ask for your Members’ office. (For more information, go to www.house.gov.