January 1, 2010

National Migration Week brings legislative push by U.S. bishops

By Patricia Zapor

WASHINGTON (CNS)—As the Catholic Church observed National Migration Week Jan. 3-9, support for legislative efforts took the forefront amid various other steps to bring attention to the concerns of migrants and refugees.

In a teleconference Jan. 6, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Migration, described several steps being undertaken by the U.S. bishops, including a new Web site, a nationwide action alert and a previously announced postcard campaign to encourage members of Congress to support comprehensive reform. The Web site is a revamped version of www.justiceforimmigrants.org.

“The American public, including the Catholic and other faith communities, want a humane and comprehensive solution to the problems which beset our immigration system, and they want Congress to address this issue,” Bishop Wester said.
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the Committee on International Policy, said the bishops also want the legislation to address the root causes of migration and help enable people to make a decent living in their own countries.

“The first principle of the U.S. bishops with regard to immigration is that migrants have the right not to migrate—in other words, to be able to find work in their own home countries so they can support their families in dignity,” he said. “Migration should be driven by choice, not necessity.”

Also in the teleconference, Sister Rita Mary Harwood, a Sister of Notre Dame who heads the Office of Parish Life and Development in the Diocese of Cleveland, said the Church in Ohio will distribute nearly 300,000 postcards that will be sent to Congress.