“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” These words, familiar to many of us, are part of a poem written by Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus,” composed to raise money for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The poem can now be found inside the Statue of Liberty on a bronze plaque for all to see.
The words of the poem refer to the vast number of immigrants who came to the United States through Ellis Island in the late 1800s and the high ideals that make our country so attractive to others. The United States has always been the place where hard work and the desire to succeed often allows immigrants greater opportunities than their own country of origin. All parents want security and peace for their children and when their country of origin cannot provide such things, they migrate elsewhere with the hope of a better life. Those who come to our country desire the freedom, peace, and security we Americans enjoy as citizens.
SHARED HUMANITY
Our government is responsible for the safety and well-being of its citizens. We have a right and should expect our country to secure its borders, protect our communities, and maintain social order. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2241) adds an additional responsibility: “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent that they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.” Of course, this is from a faith perspective that not everyone shares. What everyone does share, however, is our shared humanity. We are all part of the human family and therefore we have dignity and rights regardless of our country of origin.
While the quote from the catechism and the words on the Statue of Liberty are quite noble and lofty, the reality today is something different. Not long ago I was told by a staff member of a Missouri senate office, “Bishop Rice, the immigration system is broken.” Now, if the immigration system is broken, it is ever more crucial presently to acknowledge the dignity and rights we each have as members of the human family, regardless of our country of origin. All the more should we now advocate for the humane treatment of families and seek out solutions rooted in compassion. You don’t have to be a believer to take on this vision.
SAFETY & SUPPORT, NOT FEAR
Our schools and our churches should be places of safety and support, not fear. We are called to uphold everyone’s dignity, especially the most vulnerable among us. When people walk into our churches and our schools, they should be walking into a loving, safe community and I pray to God that our government would never violate our sacred spaces, our sanctuaries.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” As members of the human family, it is crucial at this moment in our country that we rise to the challenge and be proud of how we treat the poor, the immigrant, and the marginalized. Their human dignity is not dependent on citizenship or immigration status. I assume that those who may be reading this article are Catholic and know we have guiding principles to help us in responding to social issues such as immigration. Having just come off the Christmas Season, we’re mindful of the Holy Family who migrated to Egypt for their safety. We also hear our Lord himself in Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”
A disciple of Jesus cannot dismiss these words. People have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. A country has the right to regulate its borders and to control immigration. A country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy. These three principles guide the Catholic Church in responding to the current crisis of immigration. All the more we must pray for the gift of wisdom for our elected officials, that they may be instruments of justice and mercy. Years from now, when we look at this moment of our American history, let us be proud of how we treated the vulnerable among us.
“O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”
Published in the February 14, 2025 issue of The Mirror.
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