Bishop Asks to Halt Migrant Worker Raids

22-08-2008

Says Catholics Could Consider Conscientious Objection

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, AUG. 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).-
The bishop of Providence is urging immigration agents to evaluate the
morality of immigration raids and be ready to conscientiously object to
participating in them.

Bishop Thomas Tobin and 15 pastors of the
Diocese of Providence who minister to immigrant communities sent a
letter to the interim director of Immigration and Custom Enforcement
urging a moratorium on raids seeks undocumented workers. They contended
that raids should be halted until Congress has managed to pass just and
comprehensive immigration reform measures.

"As religious leaders
we understand and support the need to apprehend and arrest individuals
who are responsible for felonies and other serious crimes," the bishop
wrote. "The enforcement of just laws is necessary for public safety and
the common good.

"But the arrest of serious criminals is not
what we have observed in the arrest and detention of immigrants that
has taken place recently in our state, particularly in Newport and in
Providence."

The letter comes after a series of raids in Rhode
Island over the summer, as well as the death of an immigrant who was
denied medical care in a Rhode Island prison two weeks ago.

"What
we have witnessed is that the police action of [Immigration and Custom
Enforcement] against immigrants has divided the community, instilled
fear in our streets, disrupted the everyday life of good people and
separated family members, innocent of any crime, from one another," the
bishop and clergy added. "The confusing and secretive detention of
those arrested has further complicated the situation.

"As
religious leaders concerned for our people we would be negligent of our
pastoral duties if we didn't speak out against these unjust government
policies and practices."

Morality

Bishop Tobin also
suggested that participating in immigration raids could go against the
consciences of some of the government officials.

He encouraged
the Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents to "evaluate the morality
of their participation in immigration raids in the context of their
faith and sanctity of their conscience."

"If their discernment
leads them to the conclusion that they cannot participate in such raids
in good conscience, we urge them not to do so," the statement
continued. "If ICE agents refuse to participate in immigration raids in
conformity with their faith and conscience, we urge the federal
government to fully respect the well-founded principles of
conscientious objection."