Bishops, SVDP press for immigration reform

Sheila Gilbert, President of the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul writes

Dear Vincentians,

Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, including those who celebrated Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on April 1, will travel to Capitol Hill on May 29 to urge lawmakers in the House of Representatives to act on immigration reform legislation.

“Our trip to the border opened our eyes, even more than previously, to the human tragedies generated by our immigration system,” said Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration. “Bringing our experience, as well as the solidarity and spirit we felt with residents on both sides of the border, to our lawmakers in Washington is a natural next step.”

“The only real solution to this broken system is action by Congress,” Bishop Elizondo said. “We need a debate and vote on this issue. Inaction is equivalent to supporting the status quo, which Americans agree needs to be changed.”

The day will include a Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill.

It is very important that the House pass an Immigration Reform bill this year, which will still be reconciled with the bill passed by the Senate in 2013. After Dec 31, any Immigration Reform legislation will take much longer, since both the Senate and the House will have to start their work all over again.

We want to support our Bishops in urging the House Representatives to act on Immigration Reform, by joining our voices to theirs.

Please click on the “Take Action” link to send a letter to your Representative.

Yours in St. Vincent and Blessed Frederic,

Sheila Gilbert

President

National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul

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Tags: Advocacy, Immigration reform, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, SVDP, US Bishops