USCCB campaign urges parishes to pray, preach on behalf of DREAM Act

CWN - August 19, 2011

The Justice for Immigrants campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging priests across the nation to “incorporate petitions, prayers and homilies” into Sunday Masses on September 25 in support of passage of the DREAM Act. The bill, first introduced in 2001, would provide a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.

The Justice for Immigrants campaign has also issued an invitation to “plan a vigil or public event between Sept. 18 - Oct. 9 in support of our DREAM students and youth” and offers a “sample agenda and elements of a powerful event” to assist in planning.

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  • Posted by: Don Vicente - Aug. 20, 2011 2:47 PM ET USA

    Well of course we are in the era where we respect people's consciences. I'm sure that Pastors throughout the land will consult their consciences and give the DREAM act all the support that they conscientiously feel it deserves...

  • Posted by: lauriem5377 - Aug. 20, 2011 1:13 PM ET USA

    I am looking to the priorities communicated by our Holy Father. Perhaps the good Bishops could do the same...so we are all on the same page from the Vatican to the parish church.

  • Posted by: lauriem5377 - Aug. 19, 2011 7:33 PM ET USA

    Although I understand the Bishops are trying to help immigrants, I just find the priorities skewed right now. There is such a need to preach to save souls, to catechize and evangilize and to help those in the most dire of circumstances such as in Africa and Haiti.....I don't understand the priority of illegal immigrants'path to citizenship. There is a legal path to citizenship in place. I would urge attention at the spiritual and physical needs of our nation and world.

  • Posted by: dover beachcomber - Aug. 19, 2011 6:57 PM ET USA

    Thanks to the example of the pro-abortion "Catholic" members of Congress who publicly told the Bishops to get lost when the latter called them to account -- and then suffered absolutely no consequences from those same Bishops -- I'm sure I'll be able to set up my anti-DREAM-Act table outside my parish church with complete impunity.

  • Posted by: Savonarola - Aug. 19, 2011 6:33 PM ET USA

    Catholic Christians of good will can disagree as to the handling of the immigration situation. While the Church enunciates principles and prudential judgment must follow as to how to implement them practically, the USCCB is suggesting that it is mandatory for Catholics to support the DREAM Act. This is really more than a stretch -- it's misleading and does not enhance the credibility of the USCCB which feels compelled to sound off on so many issues.

  • Posted by: New Sister - Aug. 19, 2011 6:32 AM ET USA

    There is so much matieral here, a cartoonist could run with it and make a Catholic version of "Dilbert"- adapting its office to the USCCB, AM-church committees, and the projects they issue forth. [a stuffed donkey would be a *must* as a background prop in their committee meetings]

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