The Catholic diocese of San Jose held a prayer service for immigration reform and reunification of migrant families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday night at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph.
Bishop Patrick McGrath presided over the service and began with, “pray for those who can’t come to public service such as this” to an almost-packed church.
The prayer service in Spanish and English presented three sets of testimonials.
Taking his cue from the Bible about Joseph, Mary and Jesus fleeing from Herod to Egypt, McGrath related old Egypt to modern times, saying “is like Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.”
“They have no option. When people live in a place of danger, they have a right to live elsewhere. A nation’s sovereignty must be respected. But each nation has a moral obligation,” McGrath said.
McGrath added that the U.S. is using “unconscionable tactics to drive asylum seekers deep into the desert” and that “the policy that separates children (from their families) is morally reprehensible, crafted only to send a message not to come to the U.S.”
“The U.S. is a country of immigrants and refugees. All of us are refugees and immigrants. For decades, we have been a refuge for tyranny, the hungry and encourage them to build the land that has become their own,” McGrath told the crowd.
The prayer service was attended by lay leaders, faith-based community organizations, migrants, refugees, priests, religious and St. Joseph parishioners. Aside from Catholic Charities, other organizations represented at the reception after the service included: People Acting in Community Together, Faith Reentry Collaborative, Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.
Miner said the service was hastily put together in response to Trump’s order to separate families. Newly installed Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement Fr. Jon Pedigo said they did not expect this large of a turn-out.
Full story at Mercury News.
I’m not an immigrant nor a refugee. I’m a native American citizen. So, PJ, you’re wrong. On so many things. You’re wrong.
Has PJ ever described support for abortion as unconscionable?
This is a diocese that has married gays teaching at Archbishop Mitty High School and in other schools, married gays serving on parish council at Saint Clare parish, and gays in church work all up and down the diocese. The most gay friendly diocese in America, it has been called. The bishop knows all about it. Some of it has been reported on this site. But he just lets it go on and tries to hide it. Welcome to the DSJ, where Democrat politics is the true religion.
There are very dangerous and unwise men in powerful positions in the church. Let’s hope nobody listens to them.
I pray for his deathbed conversion, I hope it is soon!
Hasn’t anyone that is a parishioner in the diocese of San Jose ever (perhaps even a group effort) contacted the Papal Nuncio in Washington D.C. regarding all the gays in the schools and all around the diocese? After all, he is the Holy Father’s representative in the United States.
There is power in speaking up…..of course in a assertive but charitable way always!!!
The scandals within the San Jose Diocese and PJ have been reported all the way the Vatican. No one cares! PJ is still in good standing, The apple is rotten to the core!
If truly seeking asylum all one need do is report to the port authority and register. Of course the date of the request would put one outside the DACA group but if you truly need asylum you wouldn’t be separated from your children. Just follow the law… unless of course, you seek to subvert the law.