Michigan Catholic bishops urge support for immigrant families
The letter, published this week by the Michigan Catholic Conference, was presented on behalf of the leaders of the Archdiocese of Detroit including the archbishop, the Most Rev. Allen Vigneron; and the bishops for the dioceses in Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette and Saginaw.
The conference serves as the official voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan on matters of public policy, and has issued advocacy statements on a variety of issues.
"We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters," the bishops' letter said. "As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst."
The bishops' letter urges elected officials "to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children."
They specifically call on the Michigan Congressional delegation to "work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs."
The letter includes wishes of peace, faith and hope for migrant individuals, and a petition to Our Lady of Guadalupe on behalf of all those who seek "heavenly intercession."
Since President Trump took office, efforts to deport illegal immigrants have ramped up. On Wednesday, Metro Detroit politicians and advocates rallied together at Patton Park in Detroit to discuss the rights of local immigrants.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
How Pope Leo's Popularity Compares to Pope Francis After 100 Days
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Pope Leo XIV has enjoyed relatively strong popularity after the first 100 days of his papacy. A number of polls have shown broad early goodwill from U.S. Catholics and many Americans as August 16 marked the 100th day as leader of the Church. However, he is yet to reach the heights his predecessor Pope Francis enjoyed during his tenure. Why It Matters Pope Leo, a Chicago native, was chosen as the new leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 after a two-day conclave and held his first mass in the Sistine Chapel on May 9. He replaced Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. His popularity rating is useful in measuring the public's response to him and his policies as he carves out his role and differentiates himself from his predecessor. Pope Leo XIV, during Angelus prayer in front of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on August 16, 2025. Pope Leo XIV, during Angelus prayer in front of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on August 16, 2025. Photo by: Rocco Spaziani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images What To Know An Associated Press‑NORC survey of 1,158 U.S. adults, fielded June 5–9, found that roughly two‑thirds of American Catholics said they had a "very" or "somewhat" favorable view of Pope Leo XIV. About three in 10 said they did not know enough to form an opinion, and fewer than one in 10 viewed him unfavorably. The poll found he had around the same levels of support from Democrats and Republicans and that he had more support among older than younger Americans. According to Zenit news, a poll two years into Pope Francis' papacy showed he had a 59 percent favorability rating, suggesting there is more early optimism toward Pope Leo. Pope Francis' popularity peaked at 90 percent in 2015, according to the Pew Research Center, and fell to 75 percent in April 2024. Meanwhile, a late‑July telephone survey of 1,002 adults conducted July 7–21 for Gallup showed Pope Leo with a 57 percent favorable rating, 11 percent unfavorable and 31 percent no opinion among U.S. adults, placing him above other international figures in net favorability, including U.S. President Donald Trump. What People Are Saying Pope Leo XIV, in his inaugural mass in May: "In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest." Terry Barber, a 50-year-old Catholic from Sacramento, California, told Associated Press: "I'm optimistic. Certainly, the first pope from the United States is significant. Since he worked under the previous pope, I'm sure he has similar ideas, but certainly some that are original, of his own. I'm looking forward to seeing what, if any changes, come about under his leadership." What Happens Next As he continues his papacy and speaks at events, the public response to Pope Leo is likely to fluctuate.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Madonna calls on Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza before 'it's too late'
Taking to Instagram on Monday, the Queen of Pop issued an emotional plea to the leader of the Catholic Church, to travel to the Middle East in a bid to support the "innocent children" of the city. 'Most Holy Father, please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it's too late. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry. We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children..."
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Cardinal Blase Cupich celebrates 50th anniversary of Catholic ministry
Cardinal Blase Cupich is marking 50 years in the Catholic Church, including more than a decade as the leader of the Chicago Archdiocese. According to church law, Cupich had to submit his resignation when he turned 75, and he did that last year, but he's not going anywhere just yet. He'll remain in place, until Pope Leo XIV decides to replace him. Cupich said one thing from his 50 years in the Catholic Church he'll never forget is seeing his friend, Robert Prevost, be elected pontiff and becoming Pope Leo XIV in June. "I think it was standing on the balcony when the pope was announced, and when he came out … because some of the cardinals shoved me up to the front, because they, you know, being from Chicago and the pope was in the next balcony over. And to look over that crowd, and it was thrilling, the gathering of all the people that were there; and then to hear him speak," Cupich said. "My friend, Robert Prevost, speaking to the crowd in perfect Italian and then Spanish, I think that that is something I'll never forget, looking out over that basilica." Given Cupich's personal relationship with the pope, does he think there's a chance he might not be in a hurry to replace him as cardinal in Chicago? "I don't want to trade on that, but I think that he seems agree with me on a number of things. We've been friends for a good decade and then worked together in the last six years. So, he knows my mind and I know his. So, I think we're suited for each other in a very good way," he said. Is Cupich ready to step aside? "Yeah. You know, I would step aside when I do, when I'm asked to do that, but I'm not going to resign from the priesthood. I'm going to continue to do work," he said. "I started off teaching high school kids, and I liked that, and so if the new archbishop comes in, and there is an opening in a high school that he'd like me to be chaplain of or do some teaching at the college level, which I've done before, I'd be happy to do that." Cupich recently traveled to Nagasaki, Japan, to mark the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945. The cardinal made some poignant comments about the church's teachings on war and the "just war" theory, saying that historians tell us when President Harry Truman decided to use the atomic bomb, he did not find it a tough decision. What was the point that message? "I think that it was clear that, first of all, people – even those who invented this weapon – didn't know the catastrophic effects that it would have, because it had not been tested on people before," he said. "We have to make sure that we never have another nuclear explosion on this planet again; that we don't kid ourselves that we have security simply because we have atomic weapons." How did Cupich think his message in Nagasaki translated, and what did he want people to take away from that given the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza? "War is always a failure for humanity. So we have to look for a way in which we preempt all of that by making sure that we sit down and listen to each other and talk to each other before we begin to rearm. And that, I fear, right now is happening. We're rearming across the world," he said. Does Cupich worry that there could be another nuclear weapon used? "I think so, when you have nine countries that have them. We had this recent flareup between Pakistan and India. Both of them are nuclear nations, and I think anything's possible," he said.
