Statement from the Diocese of San José
En Espanol | Bằng tiếng Việt
The Diocese of San José reaffirms its unwavering commitment to upholding the dignity and humanity of all persons, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. Our faith compels us to accompany those who feel vulnerable, fearful, or uncertain in these times and to offer them pastoral care and timely resources.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that nations have the right to secure and control their borders in the interest of the common good (CCC 2241). However, this responsibility must be balanced with the moral imperative to protect and provide refuge to those fleeing persecution, hardship, or violence (Lk. 10: 25-37). As a people of faith, we are called to advocate for policies and practices that honor this balance, ensuring the dignity and safety of individuals and families.
We echo the recent words expressed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), emphasizing that human dignity is not dependent on one’s citizenship or immigration status. In the face of any policy changes, we urge a humane and respectful approach that prioritizes the well-being of individuals and families, particularly the most vulnerable.
In partnership with Catholic Charities and other non-profits, several parishes are actively coordinating Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations to provide vital information. We also continue to update our diocesan webpage with resources for migrants and refugees as more information becomes available. We encourage those in our community to visit our website (www.dsj.org) for guidance and the available tools.
We urge Congress to pass humane and common sense comprehensive immigration laws so that the broken immigration system might be stabilized, for the good of our country and the good of migrants and refugees.
We invite people of faith and those of goodwill to advocate for immigration policies that respond to the needs of our country and that honor the dignity of migrants and refugees.
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