By CHM Sisters
Guest Column
The Congregation of the Humility of Mary, based in Davenport, is calling upon concerned citizens to advocate for immigration policies that continue to promote the United States as a beacon of hope for our diverse, global community.
Associates from the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in Davenport hold signs welcoming the stranger.
The Gospel, as well as the CHM mission, mandates that we care for the least among us. As women of faith, CHMs feel called to speak publicly and act fearlessly in support of refugees forced to migrate from their home countries and/or immigrants seeking safety and a new life in the United States. The sisters have issued a statement on support for refugees and immigrants:
“As a community of women religious who were welcomed to the United States as immigrants we, Congregation of the Humility of Mary, support refugees and immigrants from all countries. For more than 150 years, we have ministered alongside refugees, immigrants and migrants. As citizens of the United States, we recognize that our diverse cultures and nationalities are an integral part of our heritage and the foundation of our democracy. As members of the human family, we echo Pope Francis who reminds us that, “migrants are our brothers and sisters in search of a better life, far away from poverty, hunger, exploitation and the unjust distribution of the planet’s resources which are meant to be equitably shared by all.” In response to the recent refugee ban, increased deportations and anti-immigrant sentiments, we,
Congregation of the Humility of Mary, commit ourselves to act with others on behalf of refugees, immigrants and migrants by:
• Deepening our awareness and understanding of policies and legislation which affect them;
• Using our resources to help meet their needs for shelter, education, healthcare, protection, mentoring and advocacy;
• Calling on elected officials to enact comprehensive legislation and humane immigration policies that promote a path to citizenship, the rights of migrant children, family unification, protection from unjust and inhumane detention and treatment of undocumented workers and other persons, control of our borders through compassionate initiatives and equal access to the U.S. refugee resettlement program regardless of ethnic and religious background.
We, Congregation of the Humility of Mary, join with others in prayer as we call upon concerned citizens to advocate for immigration policies that continue to promote the United States as a beacon of hope for our diverse, global community.
The sisters emphasized that they “understand that enforcement of law is part of any immigration policy. However, the present policy of involving state and local law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of federal immigration law, such as in the ‘Secure Communities’ program, is not achieving that goal. True security lies in building relationships and respecting human rights and only true, comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform can deal with the crisis in our nation.”
