What if we lived believing that the one spark of divine love of Christ is truly in us? What would our lives be like?

Many of us are frustrated and angry that the president of the United States feels he has the power to instill fear in the people of our country. That he can run rough shod over the American people by bullying those who do the work, who make America great, and who are frightened out of the United States.

Impelled by the spark of divine love that we recognize in all people, we speak out against the demoralizing and inhuman treatment of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants as well as bona fide American citizens whom the president threatens with deportation because they were not born in the USA.

We challenge our elected officials and the hierarchy of the Catholic Church to join their voices with ours in demanding that ICE be removed from schools, houses of worship, restaurants, work places, and places of entertainment that ICE feels “illegals” hang out and can be detained and deported with very few questions asked.

As Vincentians, we strive to help all in need because the Person of Jesus whom we follow commanded us to love one another as He loves us, and we see the face of Christ in each person whom we meet. We as citizens, politicians, and clergy have the moral duty and obligation to join voices in demanding the end to mass arrests and deportation that leads to separation of families and adds to the level of poverty among our immigrant brothers and sisters. We must demand that politicians work across both parties in the House and the Senate to create a pathway of citizenship for those who come to this country seeking asylum and a better way of life. And we must challenge our pastors, bishops, and the entire Church to speak out publicly as Pope Francis did and as Pope Leo has begun to do.

That spark of divine love impels us to do good works AND speak out, advocate, and challenge our political and religious leaders to see the divine spark in every human being. We do so, for God so loved the world…