USCCB - (MRS) - Strangers No Longer: Together on the = Journey of Hope

MRS > Pastoral Care = of Migrants=20 and Refugees > Strangers No Longer: Together on the = Journey of=20 Hope - A Summary

Introduction

1. With = voices of=20 compassion in the face of one of the aspects of the worldwide = phenomenon=20 of globalization, the bishops of Mexico and the United States = speak=20 together in Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of = Hope=20 about the experience of migration. Inspired by John Paul II=92s = post-synodal=20 apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America (EA) at the close = of the=20 Synod of America, January 23, 1999, Strangers No Longer = seeks to=20 encourage manifestations of commitment to solidarity with = migrants.=20 Defining a migrant as =93a person on the move, either voluntarily = or=20 involuntarily, in the person=92s own country, internationally, or = both,=94=20 migrants are not always living in the fear or danger of = persecution=20 experienced by refugees who are forced to flee the troubles of = their=20 homes. Nevertheless, migrants deserve the welcome and support = commensurate=20 to their dignity as human persons. The bishops seek to draw = attention to=20 the =93loss of life, family separation and destruction, = disappearances of=20 entire villages, racism, and indifference to migrants and = immigrants=94=20 (Preface). Migration should be a choice, but the Church=92s = attitude is one=20 of welcome to and solidarity with all persons who of choice or = need are on=20 a journey that should be a journey of hope.

2. Affirming = that =93We=20 judge ourselves as a community of faith by the way we treat the = most=20 vulnerable among us=94 (no. 6), the bishops seek to enliven public = officials, government enforcement personnel, pastoral care-givers, = community leaders and activists, and the peoples of Mexico and the = United=20 States. All are urged to share in this recognition that the call = to=20 solidarity reaches to the millions of migrants whose travels are=20 experienced by those peoples each year. Migrants themselves are = reminded=20 of their rights and gifts to exercise their dignity and to live as = children of God (cf. no. 9). In response to the situation of = vulnerable=20 migrants, the bishops point to proper exercise of resources and = the faith=20 =93by stressing the dignity of the human person, the rights of = migrants,=20 even undocumented migrants, and the importance of family unity=94=20 (Preface).

America: A Common = History of=20 Migration and a Shared Faith in Jesus Christ=20

3. The history of the continent shared by Mexico and the United = States=20 is filled with the experience of immigration. The encounter = between=20 Spaniards and the indigenous peoples of Mexico and the reception = of=20 immigrants from around the world in the United States both show = different=20 aspects of a history that has both struggled with and flourished = because=20 of interactions attempting to reconcile diversity and build new = lives=20 together with others.

4. In addition to a common history, = the=20 peoples of America share a common faith in Jesus Christ, which the = bishops=20 affirm with the Pope has =93shaped [our] religious profile, marked = by moral=20 values which, though they are not always consistently practiced = and at=20 times are cast into doubt, are in a sense the heritage of all = Americans,=20 even of those who do not explicitly recognize this fact=94 (no. = 14., cf.=20 EA, no. 14). As =93a faith that transcends borders and bids = us to=20 overcome all forms of discrimination and violence=94 (no. 19), the = Christian=20 heritage of America is already a common ground on which to = strengthen=20 solidarity.

5. In the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, = the=20 American continent has a visible manifestation of the concern the = People=20 of God are called to have for the powerless and vulnerable. The = bishops=20 also remind the faithful that, =93It was St. Juan Diego whom our = Mother=20 asked to build a temple so in it she could show her love, = compassion, aid,=20 and defense to all her children, especially the least among = them=94 (no.=20 20), which has led to a celebration of all the peoples of America, = gathered in her Basilica, =93at the table of the Lord, where all = his=20 children may partake of and enjoy the unity of the continent in = the=20 diversity of its peoples, languages, and cultures=94 (no. 20, cf. = EA,=20 no. 11).

Reflections in the Light = of the Word=20 of God and Catholic Social Teaching=20

6. Using the word of God and Catholic social teaching to = illuminate the=20 phenomenon of migration helps the faithful to appreciate =93the = ethical,=20 social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of migrations = between=20 our two countries=94 (no. 22). Difficulties like isolation, = travel, poverty,=20 and prejudice are shadows, but the word of God gives abundant = hope. In=20 Christ, the faithful experience the revelation of the word that = =93light=20 shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it=94 = (Jn=20 1:5).

7. The Old Testament examples of Abraham and = Sarah=92s=20 =93bounteous hospitality to three strangers who were actually a=20 manifestation of the Lord=94 (no. 24), and Joseph saving the = people of Egypt=20 and his own family show the dynamics of receiving strangers and = the good=20 that the Lord can bring even through an involuntary migration. The = favor=20 of God toward the migrant is made concrete in the Law: =93For the = LORD, your=20 God, is the =85LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, = who has no=20 favorites, accepts no bribes; who executes justice for the orphan = and the=20 widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you = too must=20 befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the = land of=20 Egypt=94 (Dt 10:17-19).

8. St. Matthew=92s Gospel recalls = that Jesus=20 himself spent part of his youth as a refugee fleeing the injustice = of King=20 Herod. Knowing Jesus himself traveled and was separated from all = of his=20 previous life besides Mary and Joseph, =93this account [of] the = Holy Family=20 has become a figure with whom Christian migrants and refugees = throughout=20 the ages can identify, giving them hope and courage in hard = times=94 (no.=20 26). The bishops remind that Christ=92s assertion in his preaching = about the=20 last days, =93Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of = these least=20 brothers of mine, you did for me=94 (Mt 25:40), calls the faithful = to a=20 special attitude of compassion for the plight of migrants facing=20 difficulties (no. 26). Called and gifted through baptism, =93The = triumph of=20 grace in the Resurrection of Christ plants hope in the hearts of = all=20 believers, and the Spirit works in the Church to unite all peoples = of all=20 races and cultures into the one family of God=94 (no. = 27).

9.=20 Catholic social teaching defends the right to migrate and provides = direction to make migration unnecessary, =93so that migrants can = remain in=20 their homeland and support their families=94 (no. 28, emphasis = added). Five=20 key principles emerge in the bishops=92 understanding of Catholic = social=20 teaching on migration issues:

Persons have the right to find opportunities in their = homeland.
Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and = their=20 families.
Sovereign nations have the right to control their = borders.
Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded = protection.
The human dignity and human rights of undocumented migrants = should=20 be respected.
(Nos. 33-38)

It is only in balancing = the right=20 of the sovereign state to be secure with the right of human = persons to=20 make choices about migration that the complementary nature of = service=20 between state and person can be seen.

Pastoral Challenges and Responses=20

10. Reflection on the root causes of migration helps to assess=20 strategies to support and provide care for migrants. The bishops = of Mexico=20 and the United States together express special concern about = economic=20 inequalities that do not allow migrants =93to remain at home and = to support=20 themselves and their families=94 (no. 60). Targeted development = projects in=20 areas that have a history of emigration can encourage people to = return to=20 homes they were forced to leave and avoid the complete dissolution = of=20 communities. The difficult but hopeful goal of both countries must = be the=20 creation and support of conditions =93in which migration flows are = driven by=20 choice, not necessity=94 (no. 59).

11. Whether migration = occurs by=20 choice or by necessity, the governments of Mexico and the United = States=20 should acknowledge with sound legal avenues their contemporary = experience=20 of =93economic, social, and cultural integration on an = unprecedented scale=94=20 (no. 63). Immigration policies cannot continue to leave spouses = forced to=20 choose either undocumented migration or indefinite separation from = loved=20 ones (nos. 65-66). Temporary and permanent employment-based = immigration=20 policies must protect =93the basic labor rights of foreign-born = workers=94=20 (no. 75; cf. nos. 72-77). Provisions to document those who = illegally=20 migrate can calm fears in receiving countries about dangers = migrants pose=20 to national security while encouraging those migrants the chance = to,=20 without fear, officially =93become participating members of = society=94 (no.=20 70).

12. In times when it is necessary for border control = policies=20 to be enforced, that enforcement must be conducted in a way that = respects=20 the human dignity of migrants. In preparation for an encounter = with=20 migrants expected to be found in violation of immigration policy, = =93steps=20 must be taken to create an environment in which force is used only = in the=20 most necessary circumstances, and only to the extent needed, to = protect=20 the physical well-being of both the enforcement officer and the = migrant=94=20 (no. 79). The use of blockades and other gestures of hostility = toward=20 migrants encourages border crossing in dangerous regions by = dangerous=20 means, especially by creating conditions that make migrant = smuggling an=20 appealing mode of entry (nos. 86-91). The connection between = smuggling=20 operations with drug trafficking and, worse, the trafficking of = human=20 persons, often leads to suspicion by enforcement personnel that = migrants=20 found illegally crossing the border are also complicit in = additional=20 criminal activity. These conditions often place enforcement = officers and=20 migrants in =93a confrontational and violent relationship=94 (no. = 79), giving=20 extra urgency to the injunction, =93Care should be taken not to = push=20 migrants to routes in which their lives may be in danger=94 (no.=20 89).

13. Those migrants who are detained by border = enforcement=20 personnel are entitled to due process, including =93access to the = necessary=20 medical, legal, and spiritual services=94 (94). Especially in the = case of=20 questioning persons concerning their appeal for asylum, =93denying = access to=20 asylum procedures, making them complicated, or not providing clear = information about them in languages that people can understand is = a grave=20 injustice and violates the spirit of international law and = commitments=20 made by both our countries=94 (no. 98). For those facing the most = extreme=20 hardship, the bishops reaffirmed their =93long-held position that = asylum=20 seekers and refugees should have access to qualified adjudicators = who will=20 objectively consider their pleas=94 (nos. 97 and 99).

14. = The=20 terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 provide a powerful impetus = to=20 re-evaluation of threats to national security, which the bishops=20 acknowledge =93added another dimension to the migration = relationship between=20 the United States and Mexico=94 (no. 100). Credible terrorist = threats cannot=20 be ignored, and actions =93such as improved intelligence sharing = and=20 screening, enhanced visa and passport security, and thorough = checks at the=20 United States-Mexico border=94 (no. 100) can be seen to be = appropriate and=20 necessary. Proper concerns about national security, though, cannot = be seen=20 as justification to =93enact joint policies that undermine human = rights,=20 reduce legal immigration, or deny asylum seekers opportunities for = protection=94 (no. 100).

Conclusion=20

15. The bishops of Mexico and the United States declare = themselves =93in=20 search of common initiatives that will promote solidarity between = our=20 countries=85. committed to the new evangelization of our continent = and to=20 the search for new ways of leading our peoples to encounter = Christ=94 (no.=20 101). The phenomenon of migration is =93an authentic sign of the = times=94 (no.=20 102), which has been recognized =93through the suffering of those = who have=20 been forced to become migrants for many reasons=94 (no. 102). The = presidents=20 of Mexico and the United States, and other public leaders, are = called on=20 =93to achieve a system of migration between the two countries that = is more=20 generous, just, and humane=85. that accepts migration flows, = guaranteeing=20 the dignity and human rights of the migrant=85. that does not = threaten their=20 confidence or security=94 (no. 104). The bishops encourage = assistance so the=20 journeys of migrants can be journeys filled with hope and = culminate in a=20 welcome of those migrants, who, united as brothers and sisters in = Christ,=20 are already strangers no longer (no. 106).