WASHINGTON (CNS) -- President Donald Trump's executive memorandum intended to restrict the entry of terrorists coming to the United States brought an outcry from Catholic leaders across the U.S. Church leaders used phrases such as "devastating," "chaotic" and "cruel" to describe the Jan. 27 action that left already-approved refugees and immigrants stranded at U.S. airports and led the Department of Homeland Security to rule that green card holders -- lawful permanent U.S. residents -- be allowed into the country. The leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops late Jan. 30 praised fellow prelates for "their witness" in speaking out against Trump's actions and "in defense of God's people," and called on "all the Catholic faithful to join us as we unite our voices with all who speak in defense of human dignity. "The bond between Christians and Muslims is founded on the unbreakable strength of charity and justice," said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president, and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, USCCB vice president, in a joint statement. "The church will not waiver in her defense of our sisters and brothers of all faiths who suffer at the hands of merciless persecutors," they said. "The refugees fleeing from ISIS (Islamic State) and other extremists are sacrificing all they have in the name of peace and freedom," they said. "Often, they could be spared if only they surrendered to the violent vision of their tormentors. They stand firm in their faith." Like all families, refugees "are seeking safety and security for their children," they said. The U.S. "should welcome them as allies in a common fight against evil" and also "must screen vigilantly for infiltrators who would do us harm." But the country "must always be equally vigilant in our welcome of friends," the prelates said. "Our desire is not to enter the political arena, but rather to proclaim Christ alive in the world today. In the very moment a family abandons their home under threat of death, Jesus is present," Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Gomez said. In Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said in a Jan. 29 statement that the past weekend "proved to be a dark moment in U.S. history." "The executive order to turn away refugees and to close our nation to those, particularly Muslims, fleeing violence, oppression and persecution is contrary to both Catholic and American values," he said. "Have we not repeated the disastrous decisions of those in the past who turned away other people fleeing violence, leaving certain ethnicities and religions marginalized and excluded? We Catholics know that history well, for, like others, we have been on the other side of such decisions. "Their design and implementation have been rushed, chaotic, cruel and oblivious to the realities that will produce enduring security for the United States," Cardinal Cupich said. "They have left people holding valid visas and other proper documents detained in our airports, sent back to the places some were fleeing or not allowed to board planes headed here. Only at the 11th hour did a federal judge intervene to suspend this unjust action." "The Protection of the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States," which suspends the entire U.S. refugee resettlement program for 120 days, bans entry from all citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries -- Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia -- for 90 days. It also establishes a religious criteria for refugees, proposing to give priority to religious minorities over others who may have equally compelling refugee claims."We are told this is not the 'Muslim ban' that had been proposed during the presidential campaign, but these actions focus on Muslim-majority countries," said Cardinal Cupich. "Ironically, this ban does not include the home country of 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers. Yet, people from Iraq, even those who assisted our military in a destructive war, are excluded."The cardinal quoted Pope Francis' remarks to Congress in 2015: "If we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities."He said Pope Francis "followed with a warning that should haunt us as we come to terms with the events of the weekend: 'The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.'"Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Diego said the executive action was "the introduction into law of campaign sloganeering rooted in xenophobia and religious prejudice. Its devastating consequences are already apparent for those suffering most in our world, for our standing among nations, and for the imperative of rebuilding unity within our country rather than tearing us further apart.""This week the Statue of Liberty lowered its torch in a presidential action which repudiates our national heritage and ignores the reality that our Lord and the Holy Family were themselves Middle Eastern refugees fleeing.
1/31/17
Pope Francis on Trump's Muslim travel ban "It isn't right to say that Islam is a terrorist faith" #okc #news #wth
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- President Donald Trump's executive memorandum intended to restrict the entry of terrorists coming to the United States brought an outcry from Catholic leaders across the U.S. Church leaders used phrases such as "devastating," "chaotic" and "cruel" to describe the Jan. 27 action that left already-approved refugees and immigrants stranded at U.S. airports and led the Department of Homeland Security to rule that green card holders -- lawful permanent U.S. residents -- be allowed into the country. The leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops late Jan. 30 praised fellow prelates for "their witness" in speaking out against Trump's actions and "in defense of God's people," and called on "all the Catholic faithful to join us as we unite our voices with all who speak in defense of human dignity. "The bond between Christians and Muslims is founded on the unbreakable strength of charity and justice," said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president, and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, USCCB vice president, in a joint statement. "The church will not waiver in her defense of our sisters and brothers of all faiths who suffer at the hands of merciless persecutors," they said. "The refugees fleeing from ISIS (Islamic State) and other extremists are sacrificing all they have in the name of peace and freedom," they said. "Often, they could be spared if only they surrendered to the violent vision of their tormentors. They stand firm in their faith." Like all families, refugees "are seeking safety and security for their children," they said. The U.S. "should welcome them as allies in a common fight against evil" and also "must screen vigilantly for infiltrators who would do us harm." But the country "must always be equally vigilant in our welcome of friends," the prelates said. "Our desire is not to enter the political arena, but rather to proclaim Christ alive in the world today. In the very moment a family abandons their home under threat of death, Jesus is present," Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Gomez said. In Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said in a Jan. 29 statement that the past weekend "proved to be a dark moment in U.S. history." "The executive order to turn away refugees and to close our nation to those, particularly Muslims, fleeing violence, oppression and persecution is contrary to both Catholic and American values," he said. "Have we not repeated the disastrous decisions of those in the past who turned away other people fleeing violence, leaving certain ethnicities and religions marginalized and excluded? We Catholics know that history well, for, like others, we have been on the other side of such decisions. "Their design and implementation have been rushed, chaotic, cruel and oblivious to the realities that will produce enduring security for the United States," Cardinal Cupich said. "They have left people holding valid visas and other proper documents detained in our airports, sent back to the places some were fleeing or not allowed to board planes headed here. Only at the 11th hour did a federal judge intervene to suspend this unjust action." "The Protection of the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States," which suspends the entire U.S. refugee resettlement program for 120 days, bans entry from all citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries -- Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia -- for 90 days. It also establishes a religious criteria for refugees, proposing to give priority to religious minorities over others who may have equally compelling refugee claims."We are told this is not the 'Muslim ban' that had been proposed during the presidential campaign, but these actions focus on Muslim-majority countries," said Cardinal Cupich. "Ironically, this ban does not include the home country of 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers. Yet, people from Iraq, even those who assisted our military in a destructive war, are excluded."The cardinal quoted Pope Francis' remarks to Congress in 2015: "If we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities."He said Pope Francis "followed with a warning that should haunt us as we come to terms with the events of the weekend: 'The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.'"Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Diego said the executive action was "the introduction into law of campaign sloganeering rooted in xenophobia and religious prejudice. Its devastating consequences are already apparent for those suffering most in our world, for our standing among nations, and for the imperative of rebuilding unity within our country rather than tearing us further apart.""This week the Statue of Liberty lowered its torch in a presidential action which repudiates our national heritage and ignores the reality that our Lord and the Holy Family were themselves Middle Eastern refugees fleeing.
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