U.S. bishops congratulate President-elect Donald TrumpFaced with the series of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump on the first day of his term in office, the bishops of the United States expressed their rejection of policies contrary to the moral law. In two statements, Bishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration., noted: "Church teaching recognizes the right and responsibility of a country to promote public order, safety and security through well-regulated borders and fair limits on immigration. However, as pastors, we cannot tolerate injustice, and we emphasize that national interest does not justify policies with consequences contrary to the moral law."
The bishops also reject the use of epithets to disqualify undocumented persons: "The use of sweeping generalizations to denigrate any group, for example by describing undocumented immigrants as 'criminals' or 'invaders,' to deprive them of protection under the law, is an affront to God," the bishops say.
Among the executive orders signed by the U.S. President are those referring to the end of the right to asylum, the declaration of a "border emergency" with Mexico and therefore "sealing" the border to "repel the invasion that includes massive illegal migration, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other criminal activities". Two other decrees order massive deportations, the suspension of the refugee admission program and the reimplementation of the "Stay in Mexico" program. MexicoThe "asylum seekers wait in that country while their case is being processed, which can take months or years to be concluded.
The rejection of the USCCB
In light of these provisions, the U.S. bishops say, "While the emphasis on combating human trafficking is welcome, several of the executive orders signed by President Trump this week specifically aim to dismantle humanitarian protections enshrined in federal law and undermine due process, subjecting vulnerable families and children to grave danger. The indefinite deployment of military assets to support civilian immigration enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border is especially troubling."
The prelates call on the U.S. president to reconsider the new provisions especially those concerning migrants and refugees, the environment, the death penalty and foreign financial aid: "We hope you will reconsider those provisions that ignore not only the human dignity of a few, but of all of us. We urge President Trump to abandon these enforcement policies and adopt just and merciful solutions, working in good faith with members of Congress to achieve meaningful, bipartisan immigration reform that promotes the common good with an effective and orderly immigration system," Bishop Broglio said. The bishops pledged to support immigrants "in accordance with the Gospel of Life."
Genuine care
However, the purpurates point out that not all of the new orders issued by Trump are negative; some can be viewed from a more positive perspective, such as the provision that recognizes at the federal level that there is only male or female and no other "genders."
Our actions, says Msgr. Broglio, must show a "genuine care for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters, including the unborn, the poor, the elderly, the sick, migrants and refugees. The just Judge expects nothing less."
The Pope also shows his concern
Not only the bishops of the Church have expressed their grave concern to the US president, but also Pope Francis, who said on Sunday, January 19, in a television interview that a mass deportation in the US would be a "disgrace" because "it makes the poor pay the costs of the imbalance". Likewise, members of other Christian denominations have expressed to President Trump their dismay at the new immigration provisions.
Mass deportations will also cause major problems for Mexican border cities, many of which no longer have the logistical capacity to accommodate more people seeking to reach the United States. To alleviate the problem, Mexico implemented a program called "Mexico embraces you", only for Mexican nationals under which assistance will be provided to deportees. Likewise, the network of 50 Mexican consulates is on alert to provide assistance to their fellow citizens.
