Cardinal Cupich: sanctuary churches create ‘false hope’; immigration officials need warrant
March 02, 2017
Stating that he stands in solidarity with those “deeply troubled by the recent executive orders related to immigration,” Cardinal Blase Cupich has told Chicago priests that “we have not named our churches as ‘sanctuaries’ solely because it would be irresponsible to create false hope that we can protect people from law-enforcement actions, however unjust or inhumane we may view them to be.”
The prelate also discouraged his priests from housing persons at risk of deportation, stating that “only those who are ordained and assigned to live in a rectory or another ecclesiastical facility may reside there” unless written permission has been granted by the archdiocese.
Cardinal Cupich said that if immigration officials come to a Catholic facility, priests should ask for a warrant and contact the archdiocesan legal office. “If they do not have a warrant and it is not a situation that someone is in imminent danger, tell them politely they cannot come on the premises, ask them for their contact information, and tell them to contact the [archdiocese’s] Office of Legal Services.”
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Mar. 03, 2017 6:32 AM ET USA
True immigrants have a tendency to love their new country more than the one they left, abiding by its laws, taking steps daily to integrate into its society, learning its language, striving for a better _total community_ (not only their "own" community), supporting the _totality of local businesses_ (not only their "own" local businesses), renouncing their former citizenships, and so on. I write this as one intimately involved in the lives and cultures of all kinds of immigrants for 40+ years.
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Mar. 02, 2017 8:16 PM ET USA
Casa Juan Diego in Houston TX is one of many churches in Houston that shelter and aid the immigrant and take the Beatitudes seriously.
