Cardinal honored for immigration work, presses reform agenda on Hill

Published: 2007-03-07

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony was honored for his commitment to immigrants with the Public Service Award from the National Council of La Raza March 6. In a ceremony during the organization's annual Capital Awards gala in Washington, Cardinal Mahony and two members of Congress, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., received awards for their efforts on behalf of comprehensive immigration reform legislation. A statement from Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, said Cardinal Mahony was honored for "the courage he has shown in paving the way for true immigration reform and for his long-standing commitment to immigrants and his efforts to combat anti-immigrant policies." During his visit in Washington, Cardinal Mahony also made the rounds of congressional and White House offices, lobbying for passage of an immigration reform bill that includes a path to legalization for the estimated 12 million immigrants already in the country illegally, a guest worker program, appropriate border security measures and improvements in the system for reuniting families that are separated by long waits for visas.

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