By Maria Margiotta and Sean Quinn / Special Contributors
NEWARK – Bishop Dennis Sullivan and Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Williams joined more than 35 religious leaders from various faiths Jan. 13 for an open discussion on immigration and prayer.
The gathering at Saint Lucy’s Church in the Archdiocese of Newark came just weeks after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued guidelines for immigration reform that encourage lawmakers to safeguard communities in a “targeted, proportional, and humane” manner. It also comes on the heels of the New Jersey Catholic Conference promoting the USCCB’s pastoral letter “recognizing the inherent dignity of each person as a child of God.”
“We prayed that justice and compassion prevail in dealing with the complex reality of immigration,” Bishop Sullivan said of the Camden bishops’ attendance at the event.
Bishops across the nation have been growing increasingly vocal about immigration policy since the November elections. President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to implement mass deportations of immigrants who are in the country illegally.
Addressing those attending the bilingual interfaith event, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, said, “We’re deeply concerned about the potential impact of mass deportation on children and families. Within the Catholic tradition and other faith expressions represented here today, we’re able to see the humanity in everyone. We care for the most vulnerable – children, the poor, the orphans, and yes, the immigrants.”
The event – organized by Faith in New Jersey and Faith in New York, local federations of the national advocacy nonprofit Faith in Action, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Newark – focused on the spiritual and practical steps religious communities are taking to resist policies that threaten family unity. According to Faith in Action, four out of five undocumented people in the United States have been in the country for more than 15 years, with nearly 9 million people rooted and invested in their communities.
Cardinal Tobin outlined four core actions that faith communities are taking to show solidarity with immigrants: encounter, accompaniment, prayer and advocacy. These actions include listening to immigrant stories, walking with families in solidarity, welcoming them into faith communities, and advocating for policies that protect them from harm.
The Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders in attendance expressed deep concern for immigrant families at risk of separation. Among the Catholic faith leaders present were Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen; Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Diocese of Paterson, and Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration.
“The Catholic Church will work to protect our families, witness human dignity, and defend religious liberty,” Bishop Seitz told those in attendance. “We will work for immigration reform and good laws, pour cool water on embers of hate, preach the Good News and oppose mass deportations.”
The event also featured speeches from two migrants who discussed the uncertainty faced by immigrant families. Elsa, a community leader from Faith in New York, said many live in constant fear of detention.
“Parents in my community fear doing basic daily tasks like taking our kids to school or our neighborhood parks because we worry about being detained in front of the children,” she said. “We fear reporting crimes to the police because they could collaborate with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]. We even worry about going to hospitals because we don’t feel safe.”
Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, founder of the Social Justice Organizing Program at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pa., emphasized the shared immigrant experience in both the Jewish and Christian traditions.
“The face of God is seen in the immigrant,” he said. “We have to honor that face of God by honoring the immigrant. … That is the true test of our humanity. That is the true test of our faith.”
The event also called attention to the importance of protecting “sensitive locations” – places such as houses of worship, schools and hospitals. The new presidential administration has expressed plans to revoke ICE’s long-standing policy restricting the arrest of unauthorized immigrants at such “sensitive locations.”
“Intimidating God’s people in their temples, schools and hospitals would not be a good use of the law. It would be destructive to the common good,” Bishop Seitz said.
The gathering included an interfaith service in which representatives from various religions each offered a prayer. All were invited to write down the first names of immigrants they know and place them on a collection of rocks, a tribute that comes from the Jewish tradition. Prayers were then offered that those immigrants will find peace.
“We must show our love and respect for our immigrant brothers and sisters,” Cardinal Tobin said. “That is what we are modeling today for our communities across the region and country. We hope they are encouraged to care for immigrants during these challenging times.”
Maria Margiotta is the executive director of communications for the Archdiocese of Newark. Sean Quinn is the archdiocese’s public relations manager. Catholic News Agency contributed to this report.
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