Learn More about Immigration
Life & Dignity Sunday
Diocese of Sacramento
December 5 & 6, 2009
•
San Fernando Region
January 23 & 24, 2010
December 5 & 6, 2009
•
San Fernando Region
January 23 & 24, 2010
•
Diocese of Fresno
April 17 & 18, 2010
•
Diocese of Fresno
April 17 & 18, 2010
•
Diocese of Orange
May 1 & 2, 2010
•
May 1 & 2, 2010
•
Archdiocese of San Francisco
May 15 & 16, 2010
May 15 & 16, 2010
Social Teaching
| Push for Immigration Reform Continues |
 |
 |
 |
 Perhaps now more than ever, the Justice for Immigrants campaign is inspiring proponents of comprehensive, family-centered immigration reform. Some obstacles have been overcome and many more lie ahead, but faithful supporters believe the JFI journey is a hopeful one.Three years ago, the United States Conference of Catholic of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) published its pivotal pastoral letter "Strangers No Longer: Together on a Journey of Hope." At a symposium in Los Angeles that same year, the seeds were planted for the Justice for Immigrants (JFI) campaign. At the gathering, dioceses were tasked to conduct one-on-one interviews with a diverse pool of clergy, laity and labor leaders. The leaders heard allegations of workers' driver's licenses being confiscated; of police harassment; and of intimidation - including threats of deportation - from their employers. Subsequent to the interviews, the JFI campaign was implemented, and the USCCB began taking initiatives to urge humane immigration reform. Among those action items was a call in July 2009 for JFI supporters to let their Senators know that they should approach immigration in a comprehensive manner. The following month saw a push by JFI to ask Washington to treat immigrants fairly in health care reform. Bishop John T. Steinbock of the Diocese of Frenso backed this effort, saying that undocumented immigrants should be brought out of the shadows to participate fully in American society. He also said urgent reform is necessary in order to ensure that human dignity and basic human rights are to be respected, and that the USCCB has long advocated similar policies. Last month, JFI advocates once again called for humane immigration reform at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession held December 6 in Los Angeles. The Procession also saw the launch of a major JFI initiative: a nationwide JFI postcard campaign. The postcard campaign is currently under way, and JFI hopes it will result in 250,000 concerned-constituent postcards being hand-delivered directly to congressional representatives in Washington DC early next month. "We're really focusing on getting these postcards, getting them to our legislators, following those visits with more visits, and applying pressure to congressional members," said Jon Pedigo, Diocesan Director for the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform in the Diocese of San Jose. "This is where JFI plays a unique role in immigration work, in my belief," he continued. "I firmly believe that JFI will play an emerging role as a peacemaker, broker and vision-marker for immigration reform because of the bipartisan history of the Church. We have a unique position to bring everyone to the table." Jeanette Arnquist, who is heading up the postcard campaign in the Diocese of San Bernardino, echoed Pedigo's thoughts. "The purpose of the Church is to unite us," she said. "The purpose of the church is to bring all people together and to work for justice. That's really, really clear to me that that's the purpose of the Church. And when you look at the Scriptures and social teaching, it's so evident that this is what we need to be doing." A hopeful sign for the JFI campaign, December 23 saw the introduction of legislation to reform the U.S. immigration system: the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP). Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, Utah and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration welcomed the legislation, saying he agreed that undocumented workers should be put on a path to citizenship. First among the steps was the postcard campaign. The second step was the launch of two websites, a new Justice for Immigrants site with tools for parishes, and the National Migration Week site, which provides other resources. That and the third step - a nationwide action alert asking for Congress to enact immigration reform as soon as possible - have already been implemented. Like supporters of the JFI campaign, Bishop Wester and Bishop Hubbard believe in humane reform. They have both identified fundamental flaws in the United States' broken immigration system as the root of the problem. Bishop Wester has also pointed to health care as intrinsically connected to the issue of immigration reform and said undocumented persons should be able to choose to purchase, with their own money, coverage in the proposed health-care exchange. The next few months are critical for immigration reform, and the JFI campaign - which is in the process of identifying key leaders in parishes - needs parishes to stand by the USCCB's effort. After the postcards are delivered next month, proponents of comprehensive immigration reform will once again be contacting their congressional leaders, from February 20-22. Of especially great importance in the coming months will be the 2010 Census. The USCCB has partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to encourage participation, including among immigrants and individuals who speak limited English. Efforts are being made to inform immigrants that Census answers are confidential and protected by privacy laws; that responses to the questions cannot be used against individuals in any way; and that the Census form does not ask about immigration status or ask for a Social Security number. Much work lies ahead. In December, during his announcement of the Our Guadalupe Procession at a press conference outside a deportation center in Los Angeles, Bishop Alexander Salazar delivered inspiring words of support. Invoking the spirit of Our Lady of Guadalupe, bringer of peace and solidarity, he called on parishes to offer their prayers [http://www.cacatholic.org/index.php/news-and-analysis/immigration/592-do-not-fear.html] and take action for comprehensive immigration reform. As the JFI campaign continues, when obstacles present themselves, supporters can turn to those inspiring words from Bishop Salazar. They are reassured that this journey is a hopeful one.
|
Home 
News Immigration Push for Immigration Reform Continues
News Immigration Push for Immigration Reform Continues