Pope and US Catholic Bishops Criticize US Immigration Policies Amid Political Tensions
Pope Leo XIV has criticized U.S. immigration policy, urging reflection on the treatment of migrants based on teachings from the Gospel of Matthew. This stance aligns with a rare Special Message issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expressing concern for immigrants and opposing indiscriminate mass deportations. The message was supported by the Pope and backed by 216 bishops, with only 5 voting against and 3 abstaining.
This position has heightened tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration, with some conservatives urging the Pope to avoid political commentary. White House officials, including border czar Tom Homan and press secretary Karoline Leavitt, criticized the Church's approach to immigration.
Public opinion among Catholics varies, with approximately 60% of white Catholics approving of the Trump administration's handling of immigration, compared to around 30% of Hispanic Catholics.
JD Vance, an influential Catholic political figure, argues that immigration policy can reflect Church teachings while maintaining a focus on the humanity of migrants.
Civic actions reflecting these concerns include the People’s Mass held outside an ICE detention center in Chicago and the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL) filing a federal lawsuit against authorities for blocking religious ministry.
Controversy also arose when a nativity display at St Susanna Parish in Dedham was altered to read 'ICE was here,' leading the Archdiocese of Boston to order its removal; however, the display remained in place at the time of reporting.
Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima highlighted fundamental disagreements on immigration policy within the Church, noting that many clergy are immigrants or were on temporary visas. He stated that about half of the families in his diocese are affected by immigration issues, and over a third of clergy have personally experienced immigration-related challenges.
