Catholic statements on immigration legislation have common themes

Published: 2006-03-27

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As hundreds of thousands of people marched in cities across the country in support of comprehensive immigration reform, Catholic bishops in various states joined the chorus of voices calling on Congress to do more than crack down on illegal immigrants. The Senate Judiciary Committee was to take up immigration legislation the last week of March, pressured by Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., to quickly turn a completed bill over to the full Senate. As committee and floor votes neared, immigrants, church activists, union members and others who are pressing for change led rallies and marches in Washington, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Chicago, Denver and other cities. The Saturday before the Senate returned from a weeklong break to consider the bill, more than half a million people marched in downtown Los Angeles. Bishops from Georgia, Arizona, New York, California, Pennsylvania and Colorado are among those who have issued pastoral letters or public statements in recent months about immigration and what they would like legislation to address.

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