CHARLOTTE — In a joint statement on Wednesday, North Carolina’s two Catholic bishops urged their 1 million followers to reflect on Church teaching about immigration – emphasizing the moral imperative of protecting immigrants' human rights while respecting laws and borders. They also reiterated the U.S. bishops’ longstanding call for reform of the nation’s immigration system.
Martin
Zarama“The issue of immigration policy and enforcement is both complicated and emotional,” said the bishops of North Carolina’s two dioceses – Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte and Bishop Luis Zarama of Raleigh – in their first joint statement since Martin was ordained last May.
“While we agree that there is room for disagreement and discussion with respect to immigration policy,” the bishops encouraged people to engage in “personal reflection and formation on these issues.”
Read the bishops’ full statement.
“As members of the human family, each individual deserves and must be granted the dignity that not only supports and fosters the common good of our society,” they said, “but also reflects the reality that we are all fundamentally brothers and sisters in the Lord.”
They emphasized the need for immigration reform based on principles of Catholic social teaching:
- People have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families.
- A country has the right to regulate its borders and to control immigration.
- A country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy.
- Humanitarian protections for vulnerable families should be a priority.
— Catholic News Herald