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Jorge Luís López, a seminarian at Assumption Seminary, talks with Cardinal óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, SDB, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, following the cardinal’s presentation at the Mexican American Catholic College.
Katherine Jass Lopez | Today’s Catholic |
By Katherine Jass Lopez
For Today’s Catholic
SAN ANTONIO • The subject of immigration reform stirs many emotions. Some feel very passionately about the need for immediate, comprehensive immigration reform. Others are not completely sure what that means or what it entails, much less what they as one person can offer to the debate. The Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) offered a forum to discuss those very issues at its third annual Immigration Symposium, “Global Solidarity” Oct. 9-10.
After hearing remarks on the importance of working towards achieving comprehensive immigration reform from Archbishop Jose H. Gomez and an inspiring and educational keynote address from Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, SDB, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and president of Caritas Internationalis, participants from San Antonio and across the United States spent time in workshops geared towards becoming more educated on the subject and how to take action.
Having the knowledge and the correct information is key when discussing the need for immigration reform. Kevin Appleby, director for Office of Migration and Refugee Policy of the United States Conference of Bishops, presented “Current Public Policy on Immigration and Refugees: How does this policy respond to the common good in our country and to the social teachings of our church?”
During this workshop, Appleby provided ways on how to speak to others about immigration and immigration reform. “This is an important topic because Catholics need to know why the Catholic Church needs to be involved in immigration and how to speak to politicians and others about the need to find a solution to this issue,” Appleby said.
“I really appreciated his speaking points and his alerting us to the kinds of challenges we can be faced with when talking about immigration reform. It is very important for us as Catholics to learn everything we can; it’s our baptismal call,” said Maria De La Luz Rodriguez-Cardenas, a board member of MACC from the Diocese of Laredo.
Erica Dahl-Bredine, Catholic Relief Services/Mexico Country manager, hoped her presentation, “The Factors Driving Immigration from Latin America: Causes of forced migration and alternatives to migration promoted by Catholic Relief Service of the Mexican-U.S.A. Border” would provide new insight as to why immigration happens. “In order to understand why immigration happens we need to learn about the people who are migrating, why they are migrating and under what horrible conditions they are migrating; some of these stories are so compelling that we need to get the word out that comprehensive immigration reform is needed to help save lives,” she said.
One of the most tragic realities of immigration is human trafficking. Participants learned how close to home this issue really is and the impact it has on people in the workshop “Human Trafficking in the World and in the USA: Causes, Effects and Legal Protection Available for Victims.” Presenter Melissa Moreno, director of the Anti-Trafficking Program for Catholic Charities in San Antonio, provided startling statistics on how prevalent and profitable human trafficking is and how close to home it is. “This is a hidden crime that is truly a modern day form of slavery occurring world wide and even here in San Antonio; the goal is to increase awareness in hopes to bringing those who participate in this crime to justice,” Moreno said.
“This was a very painful but necessary presentation to put us into contact with this thing that is harming our society; it is like a globalization of sin where money and power are more important than human life,” said Father Arturo Lozano, SJ, director of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Lake Charles, La.
Normally, the discussion of immigrants revolves around those coming from Mexico or Latin American countries; however those migrating from Asia and Africa are increasing every day. Cecile Motus, assistant director of the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church, and Hisham Botar, associate director for the Refugee Settlement Program of Catholic Charities in San Antonio, discussed this during the workshop “Immigration from Asia and Africa: Causes and Migrants’ Experiences Living in the U.S.A.” “Our hope was to introduce a different face of the immigrant – that of the Asia or African — who are here in our midst and suffering from the same issues and challenges facing all immigrants. It is necessary for us to recognize them and all immigrants as Christians,” said Motus.
At the conclusion of the symposium, the participants gathered together to share what they had learned and voice their commitment to take action in support of comprehensive immigration reform. “I attended last year and was glad to come back this year. The speakers were helpful and I am excited with what I have learned and will be taking it back to my home in El Paso to work on helping immigrants and support immigration reform,” said Miriam Cruz, a student from St. Mary’s University.
A group of seminarians from Assumption Seminary made their commitment to carry out the message of immigration reform and take what they learned and use it during their formation into the priesthood. “In preparation for priesthood, we want to have seminars on the topic of immigration to be better educated on the topic and have a pastoral class on immigration ethics. We hope to carry this into our parishes once we become priests and have resources available for immigrants and for others to know and understand their rights and our obligations as Catholics,” said seminarian Brian Garcia.
The various workshops and diverse speakers allowed for an open discussion and dialogue on the immediate need for comprehensive immigration reform and provided the groundwork for the participants to take action. “The presenters showed the participants the pressing issues involved with immigration and how they affect immigrants’ well being and dignity as well as how they affect our country and world; the sharing among us as strangers to each other and the MACC ambience that inspires trust and peace contributed greatly to the success of the symposium,” said Alejandro Siller-Gonzalez, coordinator of the San Juan Diego Project at MACC, which sponsored the symposium.