Via a rare formal message, America's Catholic bishop leadership has issued a firm denunciation of the Trump administration's immigration policies.
Religious authorities expressed being disturbed by risks to the sanctity of churches and the protected status of healthcare centers and learning establishments.
We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good.
Within their declaration, the bishops described what they termed "a atmosphere of anxiety around questions of discrimination" and immigration policies.
They revealed being disappointed by the present discourse and negative portrayal of foreign nationals, while rejecting what they described as "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Religious leaders also voiced significant concerns about:
The Trump administration has advanced an aggressive immigration agenda since taking office, including revoking policies that restricted immigration apprehensions near sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals and schools.
The declaration parallels equivalent concerns made by Pope Leo, who has called for "deep reflection about the way foreign nationals are being handled in the US under present leadership."
This represents the first official declaration of its kind in over a decade, emphasizing the gravity of the religious authorities' apprehensions about existing enforcement approaches.
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