BALTIMORE — At the start of their annual fall assembly in
Baltimore Nov. 13, U.S. Catholic bishops faced some big issues — immigration
and racism — straight on and zeroed in on how to raise the national level of
discussion on these topics starting in the church pews.
They acknowledged the current polarization in the country and
divides within the Catholic Church and stressed their responsibility as church
leaders to promote immigration reform, educate parishioners on justice issues
and listen to those affected by "sins of racism."
On immigration, Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas, who is
chairman of the Committee on Migration of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, said there needs to be a "path to legalization and citizenship
for the millions of our unauthorized brothers and sisters who are law-abiding,
tax-paying and contributing to our society."
The bishops responded with applause and an agreement by voice
vote to issue a statement calling for comprehensive immigration reform.
The bishops were keenly aware that their defense of immigrants
was not necessarily the view of the U.S. church at large. For example, Chicago
Bishop Blase J. Cupich spoke of dangers of Catholics falling prey to and
believing "poisoning rhetoric" about immigrants that demonizes them.
"There's something wrong in our churches, where the Gospel
is proclaimed, and yet people leave our worship services, our Masses on
weekends, with that rhetoric still echoing in their hearts," he said.
Several bishops also brought up the notion of prudential judgment
— referring to the view Catholics could take on immigration that differs from
the bishops — since it is not a specific matter of church teaching.
The bishops who spoke on the floor didn't buy that argument and
said Catholics can't use it to push aside the need to care for immigrants. San
Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone took this a step further saying
prudential judgment can't be "taken lightly" on a "justice issue
like immigration."
Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski said the bishops' defense of
immigrants, as brothers and sisters, not problems, is not only right for
immigrants but "for our society as a whole."
"We can make America great, but you don't make America great
by making America mean," he added, referring to a slogan of President Donald
Trump without naming him.
On racism, Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, head of
the bishops' Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, said the church must recognize
"and frankly acknowledge" its failings. He said the issue has found a
"troubling resurgence" in recent years, referring particularly to
white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, this year where he said racial
hatred was "on full display."
"Racism isn't going to be conquered by speech but by
actions," said Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta, adding
that this was a watershed moment where the church could play a leadership role.
He spoke about discussions happening at diocesan and parish
levels, and several bishops commented about them as well noting that these
discussions are not easy, but so necessary to bring about healing.
Other key issues of the day where church leaders are responding
include health care, taxes and abortion, mentioned by Cardinal Daniel N.
DiNardo of Galveston-Houston in his first address as USCCB president. He took
office at the close of last year's fall assembly.
"We are facing a time that seems more divided than
ever," Cardinal DiNardo said. "Divisions over health care, conscience
protections, immigration and refugees, abortion, physician-assisted suicide,
gender ideologies, the meaning of marriage and all the other headlines continue
to be hotly debated. But our role continues to be witnessing the Gospel."
He explained that the National Catholic War Council, created by
the U.S. bishops in 1917 in the response to the world refugee crisis that
emerged from World War I and the forerunner to the USCCB, was formed to address
great national and international needs at a time not unlike today.
The cardinal emphasized other modern challenges such as recent
natural disasters and mass shootings.
But the problems of the day should not overwhelm church leaders
who should recognize signs of new hope in the church, mentioned by the papal
nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, who addressed the bishops at the start of
the meeting and encouraged them to make time for prayer amid "burdens of
the office."
He told them to be
adventurous in the "new frontier of faith" and to make a strong
effort to accompany young people who often question their faith.
The bishops also heard from the Vatican secretary of state,
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, at a Nov. 12 Mass where he was the main celebrant and
the homilist, and at a dinner celebrating the USCCB's 100th anniversary.
The cardinal told the U.S.
bishops that the church needs them today to "bring not only material
assistance but also the spiritual balm of healing, comfort and hope to new
waves of migrants and refugees who come knocking on America's door."
He also urged them to follow the pope's call to accompany the
modern church.
Contributing to this story was Rhina Guidos, Dennis
Sadowski, Mark Pattison and Julie Asher.