Statement of Bishop John Manz
Auxiliary Bishop on behalf of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Concerning Immigration Reform and Local Enforcement Issues
August 18, 2006
Recent actions by the United States Department of Homeland Security to enforce deportation orders against residents who are in Chicago illegally should again cause us to refocus on the urgent need for a comprehensive, national solution to the issues of immigration reform. In accord with the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform: Justice for Immigrants, of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the essential elements of this reform must be: family reunification, just and effective border control, a temporary worker program, restoration of due process protection and a path to legalization and citizenship for those already in the US.
The stories of tragedies, similar to those being heard today, of families and individuals here in Chicago faced with terrible choices because of unresolved immigration status abound across the United States. Further delay in immigration reform will only compound the unfairness of the current situation and place the full burden of a broken system on those affected. As we await these needed reforms, those who minister in the Archdiocese of Chicago will continue to attend to all those in need of pastoral care, no matter their status.
Why do immigrants come to this country?
“Strangers No Longer” Free DVD available for Pastors
The Priests for Justice for Immigrants, in support of the call of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for comprehensive reform of US immigration law, are pleased to offer to the parishes of the Archdiocese a complimentary copy of the USCCB’s documentary, “Strangers no Longer”.
The Office for Pease and Justice invites the pastors of our parishes to view the DVD and to share it with staff, with faculty, with catechists, with other parish leaders, and with the parish at large. It is our hope that the DVD will stimulate a conversation about immigration reform within the Catholic population of the Archdiocese.
The Priests for Justice for Immigrants invite the pastors of the Archdiocese to call us with any questions (Fr. Mark Bartosic (708) 652-2140 pastor@sfr-church.org) or they can log onto the website of the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform www.justiceforimmigrants or, www.strangersnolonger.org if they are interested in more information or additional resources, please contact 312-751-8390 or jjacoby@archchicago.org.
STRANGERS NO LONGER DVD "Strangers No Longer” invites us to open our hearts and minds and identify with today’s immigrants. It invites us to look into our past and notice the similarities that exist between ourselves and our ancestors when they came to this great land and those who are arriving now. We are made aware of the many global implications that cause people to migrate to the USA, including our need for more workers. It helps us to understand problems that exist with our current immigration system and underlines different solutions and activities that can be undertaken to fix what is broken. It reminds us of our moral responsibility to actively live our faith and our obligation to be a voice of change so that newcomers are strangers no longer.
Sections:
1.Call to Welcome
2.Our Immigrant Heritage
3.New Realities
4.Living the Faith & Credits
Run Time: Short Version 16 minutes * Long Version 22 minutes oth Versions w/ Spanish Subtitles
