Rosemont College would like to share the recent “Special Message” on immigration issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is the first time the bishops have invoked this type of statement since 2013, when they spoke out about the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate. The message was approved by the bishops at their plenary assembly in Baltimore with 216 votes in favor, 5 votes against, and 3 abstentions.
The bishops express deep concern for the treatment of vulnerable individuals and urge communities across the country to respond with compassion. Their message calls for unity, respect, and moral leadership during a challenging time. The “Special Message” states, “Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together.” The bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures.
A Mission Rooted in Human Dignity
The values of Rosemont College align closely with the message delivered by the bishops. Our mission is guided by the legacy of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, whose values are: Trust in and reverence for the dignity of each person; Diversity with a commitment to building an international community; Persistence and courage in promoting justice with compassion; Care for the Earth as our common home. These values strengthen our community and shape the academic and social experience we offer to all students.
Students at Rosemont College learn in an environment committed to a quality academic experience and exposure to difference within a safe and supportive community. Our dedication to diversity supports understanding of one another within the international community. This value plays a vital role in the campus culture, which is welcoming of all faiths. Our approach helps students grow as thoughtful leaders who engage in conversation with important global issues, including immigration.
A Call to Justice with Compassion
The bishops remind the nation that immigration is not only a political concern but also a moral one. Their message encourages persistence and courage in promoting justice with compassion. Rosemont College’s mission seeks to develop in all members of the community open and critical minds, the ability to make reasoned, moral decisions, a sense of responsibility to serve others in our global society, and “meet the wants of the age.”
Rosemont College encourages students and community members to read the full message and reflect on the importance of human dignity within the ongoing national discussion about immigration.
"Special Message" on Immigration
The full text of the bishops’ Special Pastoral Message follows:
As pastors, we the bishops of the United States are bound to our people by ties of communion and compassion in Our Lord Jesus Christ. We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement. We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care. We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status. We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools. We are grieved when we meet parents who fear being detained when taking their children to school and when we try to console family members who have already been separated from their loved ones.
Despite obstacles and prejudices, generations of immigrants have made enormous contributions to the well-being of our nation. We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity. For this very reason, we feel compelled now in this environment to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity.
Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures. Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together.
We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good. Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks.
The Church’s teaching rests on the foundational concern for the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). As pastors, we look to Sacred Scripture and the example of the Lord Himself, where we find the wisdom of God’s compassion. The priority of the Lord, as the Prophets remind us, is for those who are most vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger (Zechariah 7:10). In the Lord Jesus, we see the One who became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9), we see the Good Samaritan who lifts us from the dust (Luke 10:30–37), and we see the One who is found in the least of these (Matthew 25). The Church’s concern for neighbor and our concern here for immigrants is a response to the Lord’s command to love as He has loved us (John 13:34).
To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since, when one member suffers, all suffer (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26). You are not alone!
We note with gratitude that so many of our clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful already accompany and assist immigrants in meeting their basic human needs. We urge all people of good will to continue and expand such efforts.
We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement. We pray that the Lord may guide the leaders of our nation, and we are grateful for past and present opportunities to dialogue with public and elected officials. In this dialogue, we will continue to advocate for meaningful immigration reform. As disciples of the Lord, we remain men and women of hope, and hope does not disappoint! (cf. Romans 5:5)
May the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe enfold us all in her maternal and loving care and draw us ever closer to the heart of Christ.
