In powerful letter, Phoenix Catholic Diocese stands with immigrants

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix raised its voice, echoing the outcry from dozens of immigrant-rights organizations calling for an end to the persecution of individuals being carried out by the Trump administration.

In the pastoral letter titled “In Solidarity with the Stranger,” John P. Dolan, Bishop of Phoenix, Eduardo A. Nevares, Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix, and Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop Emeritus of Phoenix, condemned the recent increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that have taken place in the Valley and across the country, saying, “we raise our collective voice and hearts in prayerful solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters; especially considering the recent ICE operations that have brought confusion, fear, and heartache to many of our communities.”

“These men, women, and children—many of whom have fled economic hardship, violence, and political instability - come to our land seeking refuge and hope. They are not statistics; they are our neighbors. They are members of our parishes, our schools, and our communities,” the letter reads.

The three-page document goes on to detail how the plight of the migrant mirrors that of Jesus Christ, per Catholic doctrine, stating that Jesus was an immigrant, having been born in a land that was not Mary or Joseph’s birthplace, as they escaped the wrath of a tyrant and relied on the kindness of strangers to protect them.

Once praised by Archbishop Fulton Sheen as a “sanctuary for the oppressed,” the Catholic leaders said, “it is hard to see how these words reflect our current moment.”

They echoed the sentiments of Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Michael Pham of San Diego and Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, where increased immigration enforcement activity has been met with resistance from organizers and community members alike.

“It's been almost 40 years since the last reform of our immigration laws. That's too long, and it's time to do something about it,” Gomez said.

Earlier this week, a group of Catholic nuns and activists protested outside the Eloy Detention Center, the largest ICE prison in Arizona with a capacity of 1,550 detainees a day.

“We affirm their humanity. We stand beside them in faith. And we pray with all our hearts for true and comprehensive immigration reform in our nation, a reform not rooted in fear, but in justice, compassion and wisdom,” the Catholic leaders wrote.