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Catholics learn how to put church teaching on immigration in action

Mary Stachyra Lopez | Catholic Herald Social Media Coordinator

Catherine Motolenich-Torres (at right), program director of Hogar Immigrant Services, presents information on Catholic Charities’ legal program, which assists nearly 1,500 clients annually. MARY STACHYRA LOPEZ | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Catholics can be a source of unity in a troubled world by becoming
true and faithful disciples of Jesus, Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge told
180 attendees at the diocesan peace and justice symposium Sept. 16. 

The theme of the event, “Strengthening our unity by welcoming the
stranger,” was inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and
you welcomed me.”

In his homily for the opening Mass at Church of the Nativity in
Burke, Bishop Burbidge said that recent events in Virginia have demonstrated painfully
how anger toward one’s neighbor causes hurt and division. 

“In Charlottesville, we saw racism and prejudice and bigotry. We
saw violence on a baseball field in Alexandria,” Bishop Burbidge said. “But
even in our diocese, where our Catholic Charities and Migration and Refugee
Services do so much to help brothers and sisters, (we) face opposition from
those who do not want to welcome the stranger in our midst. 

“When we see all this, what do we do? What can we do?” he asked.
“And the only answer is that we renew our own commitment in the midst of all
this to be true and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Providentially, in the
Gospel today, Jesus tells us the marks of a true disciple. A true disciple is
one who encounters Jesus Christ, who listens to His word and acts upon it.”

Father Gerry Creedon, pastor of Holy Family Church in Dale City, moderated
a panel discussion after the Mass. Speakers included Arlington Catholic
Charities CEO Art Bennett and Catherine Motolenich-Torres, program director for
Hogar Immigrant Services. 

Hogar, a part of Catholic Charities, provides consultations,
defense in immigration court and other legal services to immigrants who cannot
afford an attorney. Hogar also hosts workshops educating immigrants on their
rights in addition to legal screenings that help determine eligibility for
relief. 

Data collected by Syracuse University gives a glimpse of the
need. In Fairfax County alone, there are nearly 10,000 individuals with pending
immigration cases; less than 70 percent have representation to help navigate a
complicated legal system. 

Motolenich-Torres said that after U.S. Attorney General Jeff
Sessions announced the cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) program, many calls came into her office from young immigrants
fearful of deportation.   

“A lot of calls (are) saying, ‘I don’t know what to do. I’m going
to end my life,’” she said. The staff calls 911 if necessary and makes
referrals to suicide hotlines. 

Under DACA, nearly 800,000 young people who were brought to the
U.S. as children and met certain criteria were granted relief from deportation
and temporary authorization to work. DACA is being phased out over a six-month
period, though lawmakers have indicated a deal for future legislation may be in
the works. The prospects for a law successfully passing were unclear as of
Sept. 18. 

Hogar also has seen an increase in the number of clients who are
victims of violent crimes in the U.S., Motolenich-Torres said. 

“Unfortunately, these types of cases we’re seeing more and more.
We’re not entirely sure why,” she said. Still others are afraid to apply for
relief at all or even seek out information. 

Father Creedon pointed to the need to correct abuses within the
immigration system itself. 

“A young woman I met — 20, pregnant — spent some time in a
detention center,” he said. “She was burnt from time spent in an ‘ice box,’ ” —
a cell kept at frigid temperatures to pressure immigrants to agree to
deportation. 

Father Creedon said that recently he baptized the woman’s healthy
baby. He urged attendees to not only support services, but reform efforts. 

“Not only do we deal with services and education, but we also
have to look at the unjust systems. Jesus was a servant. Jesus was also a
prophet who spoke about the injustice around Him,” he said. “Sometimes we’re
reluctant to take that next step.”

Bishop Burbidge noted that the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops has long supported comprehensive immigration reform.

“The bishops are relentless, tireless, in saying we need
immigration reform,” he said. He spoke of a two-year period of heightened
immigration enforcement during his time as Bishop of Raleigh, when officials
were “knocking on doors in the middle of the night and taking parents from
their children.

“We know that the fear is there,” he said. 

Bishop Burbidge urged attendees to support their pastors in the
hard work of speaking about these issues in a unifying way. 

“Hopefully, what you have learned today will be information that
you bring home and to your parishes,” he said.    

 

How to help

Hogar Immigrant Services needs attorneys, interpreters,
ESOL instructors and other volunteers. Go to hogarimmigrantservices.org

Register for email alerts from the Virginia Catholic
Conference at vacatholic.org

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