Six Catholic and Protestant bishops in Kansas signed a joint reflection on illegal immigration released Nov. 9 in Topeka.
The reflection offers a faith-based perspective on the tensions between a country’s right to secure and control its borders and a person’s right to emigrate from a native land that does not offer opportunity to live with human dignity.
Catholic Bishops John B. Brundgardt, Diocese of Dodge City and Michael O. Jackels, Diocese of Wichita, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and Rev. Barry Brinkman, diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Salina signed the reflection. Bishop Scott J. Jones, Kansas Area United Methodist Church, and Bishop Gerald L. Mansholt, Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, also signed the reflection.
“We are in fact a country famous for welcoming immigrants,” the bishops wrote. “Welcoming immigrants is likewise part of our Judeo-Christian tradition. What we are presently faced with, however, is the need for a response to illegal immigration, issues related to people crossing our borders at will, living and working here without permission.”
The bishops believe much is at stake with the immigration issue—the security of our nation, the vigor of our economy, the common good of our citizenry, and our country’s fame for being a place where people can find refuge and hope.
The bishops are encouraging the federal government to bring about comprehensive immigration reform and encouraging voters to advocate for a practical and humane response by the federal government to undocumented immigrants who are already living in the United States.
“The issue of immigration is a matter of prudential judgment,” the bishops wrote. “As such, it is possible for people of good will to disagree on how our country’s immigration policy should be reformed. Any difference of opinion notwithstanding, perhaps we can agree that something must be done.”
The bishops encourage lawmakers to engage in dialogue with mutual respect and reasonableness.
“Whatever is decided, the way forward for our country’s immigration policy should uphold the rule of law, protect and promote the common good, and give as much attention to duties as to rights,” the bishops wrote. “All this will hopefully enable us—citizens and immigrants—to live together as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Download the reflection document.
