Open Letter from Catholic Coalition for Migrants and Refugees
to National Leaders and Local Catholic Leaders
An Open Letter from 120 Concerned Catholics
“Dreamers” have been on the front lines of our Covid-19 response, including as doctors and nurses. Will we deport them? Other DACA recipients have been forced to be exposed to this pandemic as the “essential workers” the economy demands. Are they not worthy of citizenship?
“Dreamers” have been on the front lines of our Covid-19 response, including as doctors and nurses. Will we deport them? Other DACA recipients have been forced to be exposed to this pandemic as the “essential workers” the economy demands. Are they not worthy of citizenship?
With the Supreme Court “DACA” decision possible any day, we undersigned Wisconsin Catholics join other citizens and voices of faith in condemnation of the Trump administration’s consistent attacks on immigrant families and communities over the past three years, including the decision to terminate DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). We speak out because as Catholic Christians, we believe Scripture and church teaching lay that moral obligation upon us when government deny human rights and destroy families.
The Court’s decision will be about whether these lifelong residents (undocumented through no decision of their own) can continue to see their families, stay in their homes, work at jobs and pursue life in the communities where they’ve put down roots. If the Supreme Court backs the President, it will bar 650,000 "Dreamers" from renewing their work permits, and put them at heightened risk of deportation without legal protections.
DACA was never meant to be permanent. We need a legislative solution that provides Dreamers the opportunity to obtain U.S. citizenship and fully integrate into American life. We call upon the Supreme Court to delay a DACA decision until Congress can act, and we call upon Congress to move quickly in designing and passing legislation that provides a just and humane solution for our immigrant sisters and brothers seeking lawful status in the only country they have ever known.
We urge the Senate to pass the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) – without the addition of more detention, deportation, and border militarization plans which are unnecessary, expensive and most of all harmful to our communities. Congress should not add to an already bloated immigration detention system, deportation force, or militarized border.
We also call upon the Catholic leadership of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to speak out more forcefully on behalf of these innocent victims of this administration’s radical, historically unprecedented assault against human rights. At this critical time, we ask Archbishop Listecki, all Wisconsin Bishops, and all state and diocesan Church leaders to defend the sanctity and dignity of migrant lives, the preservation of the family and the human right to migrate -- loudly, clearly and passionately. Further, we call on our episcopal leaders to urge ALL pastors and parishes to respond to this issue. We pray you will teach our priests and people that this is not ultimately a political issue, but a human one, and one of the greatest moral crises this nation has faced in our lifetimes.
Signed,
Dan & Trish Andrae, St. Eliz. Ann Seton/New Berlin
Twyla Arnaud, St. Joseph/Big Bend
Juana Avila
Sr. Ruth Battaglia CSA, Cong. of Sisters of St. Agnes
Michael & Ellen Beiermeister, St. William/Wauk.
guy a. blair, scj
Joanna Boey , St. Elizabeth Ann Seton/New Berlin
Mary Botsford, St. John Neumann/Waukesha
Joseph Bova, All Saints/Milwaukee
Linda Boyle, Racine Interfaith Coalition President, St. Joseph/Racine
Michael Brady
Leon Burzynski, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Julianne Bussiere. All Saints/Milwaukee
Tim Carpenter, WI State Senator, 3rd District
Fr Bruce Clanton SDS, Casa Cesar Chavez/Racine
Fr. Jim Connell, Milwaukee
Mary Connolly, Racine
Fr. David Cooper
Jim & Jeanne Cusack, Saint Francis de Sales/Lake Geneva
Brigitte Cusatis
John Czyzynski, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Joseph R. Dean, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Jan de Jong, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
John Donovan
Laura Drake
Mary Pat Dries, St. Jude the Apostle/Wauwatosa
Dr. Robert Dries, St. Jude the Apostle/Wauwatosa
Francisco Enriquez, St. Benedict The Moor/Milw.
Bonnie Finkler, St. Luke/Brookfield
Richard & Barbara Finley, Good Shepherd/ Menomonee Falls
Jean Gatton, Good Shepherd/Meno Falls
Sr. Deborah Golias, Congregation of St. Agnes
Eloisa Gomez, St. Michael/Milwaukee
Fr. Tim Gray, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Lorrie Greco, Our Lady of Lourdes
Carol Harder, Good Shepherd/Menomonee Falls
Thomas J Hickey, Milwaukee
(Paul) Phong Hoang, Sacred Heart Seminary/Franklin
Michael Howden, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Debbie Kabitzke, St. John Neumann/Waukesha
Brother Michael Kadow FSC, Racine
Michael Karolewicz, St. Martin of Tours/Franklin
Very Rev. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, Provincial Superior, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Caroline Klinker
Kelly Kornacki, Holy Apostles/New Berlin
Ray Kozuch, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Peter F. Kranstover (USAID-ret.), St. Francis Borgia/ Cedarburg
Mary Krolikowski, St. Catherine/Milwaukee
Gina Kuemmel, St. Gregory the Great/Milwaukee
Joanne & Bill Lange, St. Benedict the Moor/Milwaukee
Theresa & Allen Liu, Old St Mary/Milwaukee
Patricia & Patrick Lynch, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Fr Richard MacDonald, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Carl J. Malischke, St. Catherine/Milwaukee
Tom & Mary Jo Mance
Francisco Martorell
Dr. Robert Masson, Professor Emeritus, Dept of Theology, Marquette University
Grace Masson, All Saints/Milwaukee
Donald and Linda McCann, Lumen Christi Parish/Mequon
Patricia McKay
Reg McKillip, OP, Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa Peace and Justice Office
Richard & Sandra Melcher, All Saints/Milwaukee
Barbara & Jeffery Messerknecht, Good Shepherd/ Menomonee Falls
Wendy Mikkelson, Lumen Christi/Mequon
Nancy Moews
Gwen Mosier, St. William/Waukesha
Dennis Neuenfeldt, St. Benedict the Moor/ Milw.
Alexander Nikolai, Divine Word/South Milwaukee
Eileen O'Connor, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Ann Owen, Wauwatosa, Church of the Gesu/Milw.
Mark Peters, St. Catherine/Milwaukee
David N. Petro, Milwaukee
James & Lynn Ann Reesman, St.Gabriel/Hubertus
Joseph M. Rivas
Patricia Roehrig, St. Michael/Milwaukee
Mary Jo Runnoe, Milwaukee
Heidi Russell
Fr Tony Russo, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Anne Schmidt, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Robert Schuelke
Barbara & Ken Schultz, St. Mary of the Hill & St. Kilian/Hartford
Marge Sebern, Lumen Christi/Mequon
Geraldine Seiser
Irene Senn, Franksville
David Shields, SJ, Casa Romero Renewal Center
Lana Shiltz, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Lorie Skeff, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Sr. Judith Smith
Gregory Speck, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Rev. William Stanfield
Gerald & Shirley Stanke, St. William/Waukesha
Bob Stiefvater, Senior Priest, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Gail Grenier Sweet, St. Rita/West Allis
Steve & Rebecca Szymanski, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Marguerite Thompson
Don Timmerman, Milwaukee
Roberta Thurstin Timmerman, Milwaukee
Maria Torres, Milwaukee
Mercedes Vega
Sister Ann Catherine Veierstahler, Sister of Charity of St Joan Antida
Thelma and Dave Walker, Greendale
Sr. Patricia Weidman CSA
Suzanne Wren, Lumen Christi/Mequon
Mary Yank, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
James Yerger, Good Shepherd/Menomonee Falls
Ron Zeilinger
Bruce & Terri Zivney, Our Lady of Lourdes, Milw.
Cc:
The Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee, WCC President
The Most Reverend Jeffrey R. Haines, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee
The Most Reverend James T. Schuerman, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee
The Most Reverend Richard J. Sklba, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Milwaukee
Public Information Office of the Supreme Court of the United States
The Honorable Ron Johnson, United States Senate
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin, United States Senate
The Honorable Bryan Steil, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Mark Pocan, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Ron Kind, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Gwen Moore, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable James Sensenbrenner Jr. , United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Glenn Grothman, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Mike Gallagher, United States House of Representatives
The Court’s decision will be about whether these lifelong residents (undocumented through no decision of their own) can continue to see their families, stay in their homes, work at jobs and pursue life in the communities where they’ve put down roots. If the Supreme Court backs the President, it will bar 650,000 "Dreamers" from renewing their work permits, and put them at heightened risk of deportation without legal protections.
DACA was never meant to be permanent. We need a legislative solution that provides Dreamers the opportunity to obtain U.S. citizenship and fully integrate into American life. We call upon the Supreme Court to delay a DACA decision until Congress can act, and we call upon Congress to move quickly in designing and passing legislation that provides a just and humane solution for our immigrant sisters and brothers seeking lawful status in the only country they have ever known.
We urge the Senate to pass the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) – without the addition of more detention, deportation, and border militarization plans which are unnecessary, expensive and most of all harmful to our communities. Congress should not add to an already bloated immigration detention system, deportation force, or militarized border.
We also call upon the Catholic leadership of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to speak out more forcefully on behalf of these innocent victims of this administration’s radical, historically unprecedented assault against human rights. At this critical time, we ask Archbishop Listecki, all Wisconsin Bishops, and all state and diocesan Church leaders to defend the sanctity and dignity of migrant lives, the preservation of the family and the human right to migrate -- loudly, clearly and passionately. Further, we call on our episcopal leaders to urge ALL pastors and parishes to respond to this issue. We pray you will teach our priests and people that this is not ultimately a political issue, but a human one, and one of the greatest moral crises this nation has faced in our lifetimes.
Signed,
Dan & Trish Andrae, St. Eliz. Ann Seton/New Berlin
Twyla Arnaud, St. Joseph/Big Bend
Juana Avila
Sr. Ruth Battaglia CSA, Cong. of Sisters of St. Agnes
Michael & Ellen Beiermeister, St. William/Wauk.
guy a. blair, scj
Joanna Boey , St. Elizabeth Ann Seton/New Berlin
Mary Botsford, St. John Neumann/Waukesha
Joseph Bova, All Saints/Milwaukee
Linda Boyle, Racine Interfaith Coalition President, St. Joseph/Racine
Michael Brady
Leon Burzynski, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Julianne Bussiere. All Saints/Milwaukee
Tim Carpenter, WI State Senator, 3rd District
Fr Bruce Clanton SDS, Casa Cesar Chavez/Racine
Fr. Jim Connell, Milwaukee
Mary Connolly, Racine
Fr. David Cooper
Jim & Jeanne Cusack, Saint Francis de Sales/Lake Geneva
Brigitte Cusatis
John Czyzynski, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Joseph R. Dean, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Jan de Jong, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
John Donovan
Laura Drake
Mary Pat Dries, St. Jude the Apostle/Wauwatosa
Dr. Robert Dries, St. Jude the Apostle/Wauwatosa
Francisco Enriquez, St. Benedict The Moor/Milw.
Bonnie Finkler, St. Luke/Brookfield
Richard & Barbara Finley, Good Shepherd/ Menomonee Falls
Jean Gatton, Good Shepherd/Meno Falls
Sr. Deborah Golias, Congregation of St. Agnes
Eloisa Gomez, St. Michael/Milwaukee
Fr. Tim Gray, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Lorrie Greco, Our Lady of Lourdes
Carol Harder, Good Shepherd/Menomonee Falls
Thomas J Hickey, Milwaukee
(Paul) Phong Hoang, Sacred Heart Seminary/Franklin
Michael Howden, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Debbie Kabitzke, St. John Neumann/Waukesha
Brother Michael Kadow FSC, Racine
Michael Karolewicz, St. Martin of Tours/Franklin
Very Rev. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, Provincial Superior, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Caroline Klinker
Kelly Kornacki, Holy Apostles/New Berlin
Ray Kozuch, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Peter F. Kranstover (USAID-ret.), St. Francis Borgia/ Cedarburg
Mary Krolikowski, St. Catherine/Milwaukee
Gina Kuemmel, St. Gregory the Great/Milwaukee
Joanne & Bill Lange, St. Benedict the Moor/Milwaukee
Theresa & Allen Liu, Old St Mary/Milwaukee
Patricia & Patrick Lynch, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Fr Richard MacDonald, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Carl J. Malischke, St. Catherine/Milwaukee
Tom & Mary Jo Mance
Francisco Martorell
Dr. Robert Masson, Professor Emeritus, Dept of Theology, Marquette University
Grace Masson, All Saints/Milwaukee
Donald and Linda McCann, Lumen Christi Parish/Mequon
Patricia McKay
Reg McKillip, OP, Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa Peace and Justice Office
Richard & Sandra Melcher, All Saints/Milwaukee
Barbara & Jeffery Messerknecht, Good Shepherd/ Menomonee Falls
Wendy Mikkelson, Lumen Christi/Mequon
Nancy Moews
Gwen Mosier, St. William/Waukesha
Dennis Neuenfeldt, St. Benedict the Moor/ Milw.
Alexander Nikolai, Divine Word/South Milwaukee
Eileen O'Connor, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Ann Owen, Wauwatosa, Church of the Gesu/Milw.
Mark Peters, St. Catherine/Milwaukee
David N. Petro, Milwaukee
James & Lynn Ann Reesman, St.Gabriel/Hubertus
Joseph M. Rivas
Patricia Roehrig, St. Michael/Milwaukee
Mary Jo Runnoe, Milwaukee
Heidi Russell
Fr Tony Russo, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Anne Schmidt, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Robert Schuelke
Barbara & Ken Schultz, St. Mary of the Hill & St. Kilian/Hartford
Marge Sebern, Lumen Christi/Mequon
Geraldine Seiser
Irene Senn, Franksville
David Shields, SJ, Casa Romero Renewal Center
Lana Shiltz, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Lorie Skeff, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Sr. Judith Smith
Gregory Speck, SCJ, Priests of the Sacred Heart
Rev. William Stanfield
Gerald & Shirley Stanke, St. William/Waukesha
Bob Stiefvater, Senior Priest, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Gail Grenier Sweet, St. Rita/West Allis
Steve & Rebecca Szymanski, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
Marguerite Thompson
Don Timmerman, Milwaukee
Roberta Thurstin Timmerman, Milwaukee
Maria Torres, Milwaukee
Mercedes Vega
Sister Ann Catherine Veierstahler, Sister of Charity of St Joan Antida
Thelma and Dave Walker, Greendale
Sr. Patricia Weidman CSA
Suzanne Wren, Lumen Christi/Mequon
Mary Yank, Our Lady of Lourdes/Milwaukee
James Yerger, Good Shepherd/Menomonee Falls
Ron Zeilinger
Bruce & Terri Zivney, Our Lady of Lourdes, Milw.
Cc:
The Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee, WCC President
The Most Reverend Jeffrey R. Haines, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee
The Most Reverend James T. Schuerman, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee
The Most Reverend Richard J. Sklba, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Milwaukee
Public Information Office of the Supreme Court of the United States
The Honorable Ron Johnson, United States Senate
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin, United States Senate
The Honorable Bryan Steil, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Mark Pocan, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Ron Kind, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Gwen Moore, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable James Sensenbrenner Jr. , United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Glenn Grothman, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Mike Gallagher, United States House of Representatives
Public Statement by Catholic Coalition for Migrants and Refugees
Catholic laity, religious and clergy from throughout southeastern Wisconsin are joining together to speak out for the human rights of immigrants. Because we believe in the dignity of every human life, we utterly denounce the horrifying changes we are seeing in our nation's treatment of immigrant families, whether those already here or desperately seeking refuge at our border. We are talking about scandals to our consciences like these:
To this unjust and in fact intentionally cruel treatment of these children of God, we say...
- More than 5400 family separations and counting
- Toddlers forced to defend themselves in court without assistance
- Rampant sexual assaults in detention centers, denial of medical care and prolonged detention of minors, in violation of international laws we've pledged to follow
- Forced return to unsafe countries, in violation of the Constitutional right to asylum
- Breaking up families here in the U.S. by deporting law-abiding fathers or mothers who came decades ago, raised families and became contributing members of society
To this unjust and in fact intentionally cruel treatment of these children of God, we say...
“Not in our names!”
The Catholic Church recognizes the right of nations to control their borders and set limits on immigration, but it also insists that wealthier and larger nations have what Pope Francis called a “moral imperative” to be compassionate and generous. Yet our government is rejecting its traditional role as a place of refuge, a “city on a hill” - as illustrated by recent attempts to “zero out” numbers of refugees we take in and to deport “Dreamers” to countries they've never known. Moreover, false claims and appeals to fear by many of our leaders have poisoned our political discourse and ended hopes for a bipartisan solution. Regardless of political party, let’s refuse to treat migrants as less than human and work together for fact-based, humane comprehensive immigration reform.
We call upon the good people of Wisconsin:
Open your eyes to the life-threatening dangers people are fleeing
We believe in the decency of the American people. We believe that they will resist these evil policies of our government. And as Christians, we believe that love has triumphed over fear. It is not ideology that compels us to speak out, but love for the migrants we've met and awareness of the ways they enrich our communities. We plead with you to join us! Visit our website (...), or find out how your church is involved, or get active with other allies of uprooted people like Voces de la Frontera. Help us say “Not in our names!”
- Open your ears to their stories and your hearts to the trauma they've experienced
- Learn the facts so you may respond to myths and misinformation
- Urge our lawmakers to return to American ideals and respond to this humanitarian crisis as a truly great nation
- Tell them “enough” of militarizing the border and building useless walls – demand they begin to address the forces driving people here, e.g. extreme violence unchecked by corrupt governments we have helped create [footnote here], extreme poverty and hunger after five years of drought and other impacts of the climate crisis
We believe in the decency of the American people. We believe that they will resist these evil policies of our government. And as Christians, we believe that love has triumphed over fear. It is not ideology that compels us to speak out, but love for the migrants we've met and awareness of the ways they enrich our communities. We plead with you to join us! Visit our website (...), or find out how your church is involved, or get active with other allies of uprooted people like Voces de la Frontera. Help us say “Not in our names!”