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Herald Malaysia
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
US bishops warn immigration raids spread fear, harm dignity
The prelates voiced profound concern in a reflection ahead of its weeklong retreat in California Jun 17, 2025 Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Military Services, smiles during an interview at the chapel on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 26, 2015. (Photo: UCAN Files) By Gina Christian, OSV News "No one can turn a deaf ear to the palpable cries of anxiety and fear heard in communities throughout the country in the wake of a surge in immigration enforcement actions," said the leader of the nation's Catholic bishops in a June 16 statement that assured all impacted of their shepherds' support. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the US military archdiocese, the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a reflection ahead of the USCCB's weeklong retreat in California, a triennial gathering that this year replaces the bishops' usual spring plenary session. The archbishop said the occasion of the bishops' gathering seemed "appropriate to give voice to a profound concern in the hearts of the Shepherds of the Church in our Country" over the Trump administration's immigration policies. While he commended law enforcement actions "aimed at preserving order and ensuring community security" as "necessary for the common good," Archbishop Broglio said, "The current efforts go well beyond those with criminal histories." Following through on a campaign pledge, President Donald Trump has cracked down on immigration to the US. Among the administration's efforts are terminating protected status for migrants from several conflict-wrought nations, fully or partly banning travel to the US from several nations, ordering Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to meet daily arrest quotas of 3,000, halting visa interviews for foreign students, attempting to end birthright citizenship and deporting persons without permanent legal status in the US to third countries in defiance of court orders. While the administration claims to target criminal actors in its sweeps, several high-profile arrests and deportations have impacted individuals with no demonstrated criminal record. Some 44 percent of the more than 51,000 in ICE detention facilities as of June 1 are estimated to have no criminal record, other than entering the US without permission, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. The USCCB and Catholic Charities USA are among some 200 non-governmental organizations named in a congressional probe for allegedly aiding immigrants its leaders call "inadmissible aliens" during former President Joe Biden's administration. "In the context of a gravely deficient immigration system, the mass arrest and removal of our neighbors, friends and family members on the basis of immigration status alone, particularly in ways that are arbitrary or without due process, represent a profound social crisis before which no person of good will can remain silent," said Archbishop Broglio. "The situation is far from the communion of life and love to which this nation of immigrants should strive." He pointed to Pope Leo XIV's recent video address to the young people of Chicago and the world -- in which, said Archbishop Broglio, the pope "reminded us that at the heart of the Christian faith is an invitation to share in the communion of life and love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the first community and based completely on love." "The Holy Father also challenged us to be a sign of hope by making the world a better place," said Archbishop Broglio. The archbishop noted the backlash sparked by Trump administration policies on immigration. "The many actions of protest throughout the country reflect the moral sentiments of many Americans that enforcement alone cannot be the solution to addressing our nation's immigration challenges," he said. "While protest and dissent can be a legitimate expression of democratic participation, violence is never acceptable," Archbishop Broglio stressed. At the same time, he observed that injustice can be a trigger for conflict, quoting Pope Francis' encyclical "Evangelii Gaudium": "Without equal opportunities the different forms of aggression and conflict will find a fertile terrain for growth and eventually explode." Archbishop Broglio said that "the chronic lack of opportunities for legal status for our immigrant brothers and sisters, together with the growing denial of due process to them, is injurious to human dignity and is a considerable factor in the breakdown of the rule of law." He added, "Likewise, unfounded accusations against Catholic service providers, who every day endeavor to provide critical support and care to the most vulnerable, contribute to societal tensions and a growing climate of fear." Speaking on behalf of the nation's bishops, Archbishop Broglio said, "I want to assure all of those affected by actions which tear at the fabric of our communities of the solidarity of your pastors. "As your shepherds, your fear echoes in our hearts and we make your pain our own. Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour," he said. He also acknowledged "those in our Catholic service and community organizations working to promote the common good by binding up the wounds of the afflicted." Archbishop Broglio assured "those motivated by the urgency of the current moment to work for just and humane solutions to these immigration challenges" of "the cooperation and goodwill of the Catholic Bishops of our country."--
Herald Malaysia
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Archbishop Broglio welcomes Pope Leo XIV: 'A shepherd for a troubled world'
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, expresses joy and gratitude following the election of Pope Leo XIV. May 09, 2025 Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony (@Vatican Media) By Marie Duhamel and Linda BordoniSpeaking to Vatican News shortly after the announcement of the election of Pope Leo XIV from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, Archbishop Broglio, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was 'very pleased with the choice of the cardinals,' acknowledging his surprise at the outcome but affirming his deep sense of happiness and trust in the new pontificate. 'I certainly offer a prayer for Pope Leo,' he said, 'and pray for the beginning of his mission and for its success.' Archbishop Broglio shared that he had met Pope Leo XIV during official visits to Rome as part of his role with the bishops' conference, recalling a man marked by warmth, openness, and a genuine desire to collaborate, as well as during the Synod on Synodality. 'On both occasions,' he noted, 'he was very cordial and demonstrated a great desire to be helpful and work together. I was very grateful for that.' What is in a name? The choice of the name 'Leo' evokes rich associations with Church history, particularly Pope Leo XIII, remembered for his groundbreaking work on Catholic social teaching and his encyclical Rerum Novarum. 'It sparks the memory of Leo XIII,' Archbishop Broglio reflected, 'who was the first pope to enunciate in a clear fashion the social doctrine of the Church.' The name also speaks to the new Pope's roots. 'Since Leo came from the neighbourhood of Rome, I think the people of Rome, primarily, will be very happy,' he said. A call for peace Highlighting the state of the world today, Archbishop Broglio stressed the need for the Pope to be a voice for peace and dialogue amid the many crises unfolding across the globe. 'I think all of us are extremely troubled by the by the situations that continue to ignite in our world. I think now of Pakistan and India, but we also have this disaster in Ukraine and in the Middle East, and so many parts of Africa. So that he would speak of peace, I think is essential. And I hope that he will be a pontiff who can further peace and dialogue in our world,' he said. A united Church Reflecting on Pope Leo XIV's words about a united Church, Archbishop Broglio agreed that this message is also important for the people of the United States. 'One of the things we have to learn is to listen to each other,' he said. 'We may disagree, but each person is created in the image of God, and that should never be lost. I hope we hear his message as an invitation to be unified and to become instruments of dialogue.' A universal shepherd Archbishop Broglio also commented on Pope Leo's international background—French and Italian by heritage, with pastoral experience in Latin America—as a gift to his universal ministry. 'I think it's excellent,' he said. 'Living in different parts of the world makes a big difference. It brings depth, perspective, and a richness that will help him guide the Church.' He added that such global experience helps keep the Church from becoming 'lost in its own backyard.' A Pastor for all Noting the Pope's decision to speak in Italian during his first public address, Archbishop Broglio remarked on the pastoral significance of language. 'As the Bishop of Rome, I think it's important he spoke Italian,' he said, while also acknowledging the comfort this choice brings to Spanish-speaking Catholics, especially in light of the recent passing of Pope Francis. 'It will be reassuring to see that their new pastor can reach their hearts as well.' Concluding, Archbishop Broglio offered prayers for Pope Leo XIV: 'I wish him tranquillity and every success in his ministry.'--Vatican News
Boston Globe
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
US bishops halt partnerships with federal government on aid programs, citing funding cuts
The decision means the bishops won't be renewing existing agreements with the federal government, the bishops said. The announcement did not say how long current agreements were scheduled to last. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Catholic bishops sued President Trump's administration in February over its abrupt halt to the funding of aid provided to newly arrived refugees, saying they are owed millions already allocated by Congress to carry out resettlement aid under an agreement with the federal government. Advertisement But a federal judge ruled that he couldn't order the government to pay money due on a contract, saying a contractual dispute belongs before the Court of Federal Claims. The bishops have appealed that ruling. Beyond that specific funding dispute is the Trump administration's halt to all new refugee arrivals. The Catholic bishops oversaw one of 10 national agencies, most of them faith-based, which contracted with the federal government to resettle refugees who come to the United States legally after being vetted and approved by the federal government. Advertisement Broglio's announcement didn't specify what the children's services program was. The bishops have overseen Catholic agencies resettling displaced people for a century. In recent decades, they have done so in a partnership with the US government, receiving grants that covered much, though not all, of the expenses. The Trump administration's 'decision to reduce these programs drastically forces us to reconsider the best way to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters seeking safe harbor from violence and persecution,' said Broglio, who heads the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. The announcement did not specify whether the cuts would lead to any layoffs, though Broglio asked for prayers for the 'many staff and refugees impacted.' Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, accused the bishops conference in January of resettling immigrants who are in the country illegally in order to get millions in federal funding — an apparent reference to the resettlement program, which actually involves legally approved refugees. The bishops noted that rather than making money on the program, they receive less federal aid than the programs cost and need to supplement the funding with charitable dollars. Vance followed up his criticisms by appealing to Catholic teaching to justify immigration restrictions. That drew rejoinders not only from US bishops but an implicit rebuke from Pope Francis, who said Christian charity requires helping those in need, not just those in one's closest circles.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Catholic Church is breaking up with the U.S. government. Here's why it matters
U.S. Catholic leaders are ending their church's 50-year partnership with the federal government and seeking new ways to help refugees. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, announced the change in a press release and Washington Post column on Monday, arguing that the Trump administration forced his denomination's hand. 'The bishops' decision came after the federal government suspended our cooperative agreements to resettle refugees. The drastic reduction of these programs forced us to reconsider the best way to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters seeking safe harbor from violence and persecution,' he wrote for The Washington Post. As Archbishop Broglio noted, the Catholic Church in the U.S. has been reeling since President Donald Trump froze federal funding for refugee resettlement programs after taking office in January. Catholic leaders are fighting that order in court, but they've determined they can't afford to maintain their current refugee programs amid the legal uncertainty. 'The work simply cannot be sustained at current levels or in its current form with only the church's resources. I have been praying for the impacted refugees, but I would also ask that you join me in praying for the many dedicated staffers who have selflessly carried out this work,' Archbishop Broglio said. In deciding to formally end its relationship with the federal government, U.S. Catholic leaders are disrupting their church's century-long effort to serve immigrants and refugees. Since 1920, Catholic leaders have worked to help vulnerable families, including persecuted people of faith, rebuild their lives in the U.S., according to Archbishop Broglio's press release. 'Over the years, partnerships with the federal government helped expand lifesaving programs, benefiting our sisters and brothers from many parts of the world. All participants in these programs were welcomed by the U.S. government to come to the United States and underwent rigorous screening before their arrival. These are displaced souls who see in America a place of dreams and hope,' he wrote. About 50 years ago, the church adjusted its refugee-related programs to lean more fully into partnership opportunities with the federal government. That refocusing on church-state partnerships is what made Trump's funding freeze so disruptive for the Catholic Church. In order to keep serving refugee families moving forward, the church will have to reorganize its infrastructure to take the focus off federal programs, Archbishop Broglio wrote. 'This is a painful end to a life-sustaining partnership the Catholic Church in the U.S. has had with our government and that has spanned decades across administrations of both political parties. It offers every Catholic an opportunity to search our hearts for ways to help in the absence of government support,' he wrote for The Washington Post. The church's Monday announcement adds to a growing conflict between Catholic leaders and the Trump administration. Since Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, the two camps have traded barbs over the best way to balance service to immigrants and refugees with national security concerns. This context helps explain why Archbishop Broglio took pains in his statement and column to describe the nature of the Catholic Church's past relationship with the federal government. His comment that government money never fully covered the cost of what the church was doing for refugees almost certainly came in response to Vice President JD Vance's claim that the church has become too reliant on federal funding. 'I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?,' Vance said in a January interview with CBS News, as the Deseret News reported at the time. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops previously pushed back against Vance's comment in a Jan. 26 statement. In his new statement and column, Archbishop Broglio makes it clear that the Catholic Church will continue serving refugees moving forward. But the structure that service will take remains unclear. The archbishop asked Catholics and others to pray for the church as it enters a new chapter. 'The Bible's call to do what we can for the least among us remains the benchmark. Please join us in praying for God's grace, that we might still find generous ways to respond to crises and bring hope where it is most needed,' he wrote for The Washington Post.
The Guardian
07-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US bishops halt aid partnerships with government due to funding cuts
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced on Monday that it is ending a half-century of partnerships with the federal government to serve refugees and children, saying the 'heartbreaking' decision follows the Trump administration's abrupt halt of funding for refugee resettlement. The break will inevitably result in fewer services than Catholic agencies were able to offer in the past to the needy, the bishops said. 'As a national effort, we simply cannot sustain the work on our own at current levels or in current form,' said US military services archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB. 'We will work to identify alternative means of support for the people the federal government has already admitted to these programs. We ask your prayers for the many staff and refugees impacted.' The decision means the bishops won't be renewing existing agreements with the federal government, the bishops said. The announcement did not say how long current agreements were scheduled to last. Catholic bishops sued Donald Trump's administration in February over its abrupt halt to the funding of aid provided to newly arrived refugees, saying they are owed millions already allocated by Congress to carry out resettlement aid under an agreement with the federal government. But a federal judge ruled that he couldn't order the government to pay money due on a contract, saying a contractual dispute belongs before the court of federal claims. The bishops have appealed that ruling. Beyond that specific funding dispute is the Trump administration's halt to all new refugee arrivals. The Catholic bishops oversaw one of 10 national agencies, most of them faith-based, which contracted with the federal government to resettle refugees who come to the US legally after being vetted and approved by the federal government. Broglio's announcement didn't specify what the children's services program was. The bishops have overseen Catholic agencies resettling displaced people for a century. In recent decades they had done so in a partnership with the US government, receiving grants that covered much, though not all, of the expenses. The Trump administration's 'decision to reduce these programs drastically forces us to reconsider the best way to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters seeking safe harbor from violence and persecution', Broglio said. Despite Broglio's asking for prayers for the 'many staff and refugees impacted', the announcement did not specify whether the cuts would lead to any layoffs. JD Vance, a Catholic convert, accused the bishops conference in January of resettling immigrants who are in the US illegally in order to get millions in federal funding – an apparent reference to the resettlement program, which actually involves legally approved refugees. The bishops noted that rather than making money on the program, they receive less in federal aid than the programs cost and need to supplement the funding with charitable dollars. The vice-president followed up his criticisms by appealing to Catholic teaching as justifying immigration restrictions. That drew rejoinders not only from US bishops but an implicit rebuke from Pope Francis, who said Christian charity requires helping those in need, not just those in one's closest circles.
