On July 22, 2025, the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent de Paul issued a significant public statement titled “On the Responsibility of the Government of the United States in this Hour.” The statement originates from a place of deep spiritual conviction and pastoral experience, grounded in the Vincentian mission to serve the poor and vulnerable, and it responds directly to what the signatories describe as “abrupt and devastating policy changes” by the U.S. government that threaten human dignity—particularly in the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers.

This declaration comes amidst a climate of increasing tension in the United States around immigration enforcement and legislative decisions affecting migrants, many of whom seek refuge from violence, poverty, and systemic instability in their countries of origin. The Vincentian missionaries, who have long worked with and among marginalized populations, offer not only a moral critique but also concrete recommendations for a more just, compassionate, and humane national policy. They frame their intervention not as political partisanship, but as a Gospel-centered call to action rooted in Christian values and the fundamental principles of Catholic social teaching.

Drawing from Scripture, particularly Psalm 85 and Matthew 25, the statement emphasizes that justice and peace are inseparable, and that true discipleship demands an active solidarity with the poor and excluded. This is not merely a moral or religious obligation, the document insists, but a civic responsibility that aligns with the founding ideals of the United States. Citing the teachings of their patron, St. Vincent de Paul, the priests and brothers of the Eastern Province appeal to the gentleness and humility of Christ as the model for both individual and governmental behavior.

The statement focuses especially on the condition of immigrants in the United States—men, women, and children who contribute meaningfully to society but face increasing threats of detention, deportation, and exclusion due to escalated federal enforcement measures. While recognizing the legitimate need for secure borders and legal processes, the authors reject the disproportionate and indiscriminate policies that cause suffering among law-abiding individuals integrated into the fabric of American life.

To address these challenges, the Eastern Province offers four core guidelines for just and effective immigration policy: Uphold Human Dignity, Create Clear Citizenship Pathways and Ensure Due Process, Protect Asylum Seekers, and Address Root Causes Through Foreign Policy.

The statement places responsibility squarely on all branches of the U.S. government—executive, legislative, and judicial—to lead with moral clarity and integrity. It urges a reevaluation of laws, budgets, and policies not merely in terms of political expediency or national security, but through the lens of human rights, justice, and compassion. It echoes and reinforces the calls already made by U.S. Catholic bishops, inviting deeper national reflection on the character and conscience of the country.

At its heart, this Vincentian statement is a prayerful appeal— one that combines social concern with spiritual insight. It envisions a United States that does not turn its back on the suffering but embraces its historic role as a place of refuge and opportunity. In the words of St. Vincent de Paul, they remind leaders that only gentleness and humility will “win people over,” and that harshness and exclusion are not only ineffective, but incompatible with the Gospel.

By releasing this statement, the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission affirms its prophetic role in American public life. It refuses silence in the face of suffering and instead chooses to stand with immigrants, refugees, and all those who long for justice. Their call is not only for action—but for conversion, for the transformation of public policy through the power of compassion.

Read the full statement below:

A Statement by the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent de Paul
On the Responsibility of the Government of the United States in this Hour

“Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. Truth will spring from the earth justice will look down from heaven (Psalms 85:11-12).”

AS PRIESTS AND BROTHERS OF THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION IN THE UNITED STATES, we are committed to serving the “least of these” in our society (Matthew 25:40), and to inviting and preparing others to do so as a response to Jesus Christ, after the manner of his servant St. Vincent de Paul.

Allied with our sisters and brothers in the spiritual family of St. Vincent de Paul, we can no longer be silent as we witness abrupt and devastating policy changes that threaten the well-being of our communities, particularly the most vulnerable among us. Our Catholic faith, along with the values our country was founded on, call us to speak out in defense of human dignity and basic human rights and to be in solidarity with all people, especially those who suffer injustice, exclusion, and hardship. We call on Congress to recognize its responsibility to shape policies and enact budgets that reflect the moral values of justice, compassion, and respect for human rights and human dignity. We call upon the judicial branch of our government to uphold a system of law that treats all people in justice with equal rights and voice. We call upon our executive leadership to lead the people of this country with an awareness of how blessed we already are and how we are called to use our resources for the good of our world in dialogue with other leaders.

Of special concern to us is the plight of immigrants who have come to our shores seeking a better life. While we recognize rightful needs of security and compliance with laws, even up to and including deportation where warranted for public safety and as the result of just processes, the exaggerated responses of our government to perceived threats to our country are causing profound hardship among simple, law-abiding people who harvest our crops, labor in meat packing plants, build homes, work in service industries, research cures for diseases, pay taxes, and contribute to the wealth of our nation, often seeking shelter from the storms of their countries of origin. We respectfully suggest the following guidelines to allow for a just immigration policy:

1. Uphold Human Dignity: Implement humane and proportionate enforcement policies that respect the inherent dignity of every individual, regardless of their legal status or national origin, and prioritize family unity.
2. Create Clear Citizenship Pathways and Ensure Due Process: Establish clear and accessible pathways to legal status and citizenship for undocumented individuals who are integrated into S. communities, recognizing their contributions and promoting their well-being.
3. Protect Asylum Seekers: Ensure the right to asylum is never denied when lives are genuinely threatened and remove barriers to humanitarian protection, upholding S. and international legal obligations.
4. Address Root Causes Through Foreign Policy: Shift focus from solely border enforcement to comprehensive international strategies that address the root causes of migration, such as violence, poverty, and persecution, by evaluating and adjusting U.S. foreign policy. Our country has always been a beacon of hope and icon of justice in many nations.

Our bishops, in whose regions the members of our Congregation serve, have been steadfast in their statements requesting deep reforms in our immigration system, and budgetary alignment with moral principles. We urge the federal executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the United States Government to recognize their moral authority and responsibility in making decisions that impact the lives of countless individuals. Legislation, policies, and actions of government officials matter, as they serve to define our nation’s character and determine whether we uphold the principles of decency, fairness, and humanity. Compassion also is a virtue to be enacted in policy and law.

Rooted in the Gospel and the teachings of our Catholic faith, we call upon government officials to reflect on this teaching of St. Vincent de Paul:

“We should make a great effort to learn the following lesson, also taught by Christ: Learn from me because I am gentle and humble of heart. We should remember that he himself said that by gentleness we inherit the earth. If we act on this, we will win people over… that will not happen if we treat people harshly or sharply”, (Common Rules of the Congregation of the Mission, 6).

We pray each day that our leaders might be given the insight to carry out their duties in a manner that upholds the inherent dignity of every person, created in the image of God.

Adopted July 22, 2025