Sisters Of Charity Federation Statement Re Executive Orders
The Sisters of Charity Federation of North America [The Federation] is a voluntary membership association of 12 congregations of women religious that number over 2,700 sisters.
The Sisters of Charity Federation is comprised of nine congregations of women religious and Associates in the United States of America, including the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The Federation has issued a statement in response to the Executive Orders regarding immigrants and refugees.
The Sister of Charity Federation stands in solidarity with faith leaders in opposing the Executive Orders of President Trump that have created fear and anxiety among immigrants and refugees, including both our Southern neighbors and our Muslim sisters and brothers. We will respond with urgency and compassion to the needs of immigrants and refugees while also supporting our nation’s right to protect its borders.
Based upon the spirituality of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac, we embrace the call to ‘welcome the stranger ‘(MT 25:35) and there find the face of Christ. We commit to continue our ministries and public actions to welcome immigrants and refugees in light of the unprecedented global refugee crisis that has displaced 65 million people, especially women and children who are fleeing violence and persecution.
With the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, we commit to protect our brothers and sisters of all faiths, and we oppose regulations that deny access to refugees based upon religion, race or country of origin. With Pope Francis, we see that immigrants and refugees ‘are appealing for solidarity and assistance….God is good; let us imitate God. Their condition cannot leave us indifferent.’ (Pope Francis, May 2013, Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People)
We oppose the ‘Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements’ Executive Order which ignores the right to seek asylum at our border, increases the use of immigration detention, ramps up the speed of immigration proceedings in a system unable to carry the load, deprives people of the basic right to a hearing before a judge, plays into the hands of traffickers, smugglers and drug cartels, and tears families apart. (Women’s Refugee Commission, New York, NY) We support comprehensive immigration reform which affords a more realistic and timely immigration process, recognizes changes in our current quota system and reduces the dire position migrants facing due to the protracted delay in processing applications for visas.
We lament the rise of religious intolerance in our nation. Some communities seem ill equipped to deal with the combination of fear and ignorance that sometimes accompanies the arrival of new and diverse neighbors. We will join educators, faith leaders, business leaders, police and elected officials in articulating the principles of religious liberty espoused in the U.S. Constitution.
We oppose racism in all its manifestations. We will engage with persons of varying viewpoints and inform others through Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching of the principles that allow all of us to overcome our fear and prejudice in order to respond to ‘the other’ with love and hospitality.
About the Sisters of Charity Federation
The Sisters of Charity Federation of North America [The Federation] is a voluntary membership association of 12 congregations of women religious that number over 2,700 sisters. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of Charity, we, the Sisters of Charity Federation, respond to the cries of people living in poverty and on the margins. Our mission in the Church continues the original values of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
The Sisters and Daughters of Charity serve throughout the United States, Canada and in 23 other countries in various capacities: Education and Administration, Social Services, Health Care, Senior Housing and Care for the Aged, Pastoral Care, Youth Services, Human Services and Homeless Shelters, Advocacy, Community Centers, Nonprofits, Inner-City Ministries and many more.
(For more information, visit Sisters of Charity Federation.)
Thank you, Sisters and Daughters of Charity. What a wonderful position you have taken.