Dear Friends,
I was not surprised this past week by Governor Ricketts declining a federal request to house children in Nebraska who are refugees at the US border. Not surprised but disappointed and saddened. He said, “Nebraska is declining their request because we are reserving our resources for serving our kids.” Really? That is the reason for not helping in a crisis? “We have to take care of ourselves.” Really? There might be a lot of reasons to say no, but it is because we are taking care of ourselves? That is the reason?
If a child in need showed up at the door of your house, would you say, “I cannot help you because I have to take care of my own kids?” Is that the way you would want me to respond to children who call the parish in need? “Sorry, I cannot help you, I have to take care of myself.” Hopefully, we would never respond this way.
Maybe we cannot take care of all of our brothers and sisters in need. Could we at least care for some? These are children. If everyone cared for some, then maybe they would all get cared for. If everyone says “no”, then all are lost. Maybe Governor Ricketts could ask the Christian community if we would be willing to help. If each church cared for one child? I am not claiming to know an answer, I simply know that giving a self-centered answer is not an authentic Christian response nor a humanitarian response. Let me share with you a statement this week from the Catholic bishops at the southern border:
“As U.S. and Mexican bishops along the border, we witness daily the dilemma that our migrant sisters and brothers face. For most, the decision to migrate is not motivated by an indifference toward their homeland or the pursuit of economic prosperity; it is a matter of life or death. The situation is all the more difficult for children.
Challenges such as these require humanitarian solutions. Undoubtedly, nations have the right to maintain their borders. This is vital to their sovereignty and self-determination. At the same time, there is a shared responsibility of all nations to preserve human life and provide for safe, orderly, and humane immigration, including the right to asylum.
For that reason, we renew our appeal to our governments, to political leaders, and civil society, that they work together to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate migrants in accordance with their intrinsic dignity, as well as work with other countries in the region to eliminate conditions that compel their citizens to resort to dangerous and irregular migration, producing long-term solutions. “Unlike disagreement and conflict,” Pope Francis reminds us, “persistent and courageous dialogue does not make headlines, but quietly helps the world to live much better than we imagine.”
Conscious of the importance of public health and safety, we encourage policies supported by sound scientific rationales. We maintain that family unity must be a vital component of any response. We ask that special attention be given to particularly vulnerable populations, such as children. We strongly urge that structures be put in place and reforms in our laws be made to both promote a welcoming culture for our sisters and brothers and respect the sovereignty and safety of our countries.
We pledge our support to continue helping our respective governments’ efforts to protect and care for families, as well as individuals who feel compelled to migrate. To accomplish this we commit to the ongoing work of Catholic organizations at the border and elsewhere, which are generously tended to by lay people, consecrated persons, and the clergy.
One year ago, on the eve of Easter Sunday, Pope Francis, exclaimed ‘How beautiful it is to be Christians who offer consolation, who bear the burdens of others and who offer encouragement: messengers of life in a time of death.’ As we once again enter into Holy Week, in which we experience the power of love in Christ’s Death and Resurrection, we feel encouraged to keep going, helping migrants, conscious that while the way ahead is long and arduous, it is not impossible if we journey together.”
Today, we are selling sauce and meatballs to raise money for All Saints School. The vast majority of children in our school are poor and come from families of refugees. Thank you for welcoming them! Thank you for helping them! Thank you for opening your hearts in ways that express your faith! When they arrive at our door they are not turned away, they are welcomed. Thanks for your support. Let’s sell some meatballs and sauce!
Peace,
Fr. Damian