To our dear migrant brothers and sisters in Christ:
We write to you with hearts full of compassion and a deep desire to express our solidarity with you during this stressful time. We recognize the immense challenges you face as migrants, and we want to assure you that you are not alone.
As your bishops, we will advocate for your just treatment and dignity within the framework of the law. The Church will accompany and serve you at this time as much as we are able. We assure you of our prayerful support and ask the State of Iowa to do the same. You are our brothers and sisters. Please know that you are not forgotten and that your Church stands with you in solidarity.
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has been a tireless advocate for those who find themselves in situations like yours, reminding us constantly of your inherent dignity and our responsibility to welcome you. He has said, “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women, and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more.”
Pope Francis has also reminded us, “God not only walks with his people, but also within them… In this we see an extension of the mystery of the Incarnation. For this reason, the encounter with [those who migrate], as with every brother and sister in need, is also an encounter with Christ. He himself said so.”
Sacred Scripture provides us with countless examples of God’s love for the stranger and the sojourner. These words remind us that we are all pilgrims on this earth and will all stand before Jesus at our final judgment and be held accountable for how we have treated others, especially those most in need.
May God bless you and grant you peace.
In Christ,
Archbishop Thomas Zinkula,
Archbishop of Dubuque
Bishop Dennis Walsh,
Diocese of Davenport
Bishop R. Walker Nickless,
Bishop of Sioux City
Bishop William Joensen,
Bishop of Des Moines
Matthew 22:16-21
They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
The United States has a government based upon the rule of law. Part of that has to do with immigration. My wife is an immigrant, and we went through the legal immigration process and found it to be thorough and fair. This is the “Caesar” that our Lord spoke of. He did not advocate for the overthrow of the Roman or Jewish law or rule (much to the chagrin of Judas and those zealots of his ilk that wanted a Messiah to lead them to a military overthrow of the current Roman governance.) Jesus continually focused on the spiritual aspect and made the wise decision to stay out of politics and the governance of mankind. If the Catholic church would only follow his example in this in the same fashion – as they urge the congregation to do. To offer succor to those who have broken our laws, is not in line with the teachings and actions of our Lord. I believe that these individuals need to obey the law, meaning they come here only by legal process and methodology and wait in line for the same process that we went through. Anything less than that is not only breaking our laws, but is in direct opposition to the word and action of Christ himself, and is a improper advocacy of the Catholic church.