At the end of their recent semi-annual meeting, Catholic bishops from dioceses along the Texas-Mexico border lamented the challenges facing migrants and called on governments to welcome newcomers and help them adjust to life in a new country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are filled with mourning that many people seeking a better future have lost their lives\u201d in fleeing their homelands, the bishops said.
From 2015-2018, nearly 4,000 migrants had died or gone missing along the route through Mexico to the U.S., the Associated Press reported.
The bishops said they are also deeply saddened by the uncertainty and rejection facing those requesting asylum, as well as growing racism and discrimination toward foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe drama of those who suffer deportation, who see their dreams, efforts, and sacrifices cut short and who return penniless and in debt to dangerous conditions pains us,\u201d they said.
\u201cWe shall continue to advocate for the human rights of the poor and of migrants, in particular children and young people,\u201d they continued, calling for immigrants to receive \u201cthe possibility of integral development, a decent and peaceful life\u201d in their new homeland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bishop from along the Texas-Mexico border met Aug. 30-Sept. 1 in the Mexican diocese of Matamoros, across the U.S. border from Brownsville, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attending the meeting from the United States were Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Mario Avil\u00e9s and Bishop Emeritus Raymundo Pe\u00f1a, Archbishop Gustavo Garc\u00eda-Siller of San Antonio, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo, and Bishop Emeritus Michael Pfeifer of San Angelo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Participating from Mexico were Bishop Jos\u00e9 Guadalupe Torres Campos of Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez, Bishop Hilario Gonz\u00e1lez Garc\u00eda of Linares, Bishop Eugenio Lira Rugarc\u00eda of Matamoros, Bishop Jes\u00fas Jos\u00e9 Herrera Qui\u00f1onez of Nuevo Casas Grandes, Bishop Enrique S\u00e1nchez Mart\u00ednez of Nuevo Laredo, Bishop Alonso Garza Trevi\u00f1o of Piedras Negras, and Bishop Ra\u00fal Vera L\u00f3pez of Saltillo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Aug. 31, the bishops celebrated Mass next to the Rio Grande, which separates the United States and Mexico, and prayed for migrants, living and deceased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking with ACI Prensa, CAN\u2019s Spanish language sister agency, Bishop Eugenio Lira of Matamoros stressed that the reality facing migrants is rapidly changing, \u201cand this requires us to be attentive in order to respond appropriately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, he said, \u201cin some border towns, the migrants are no longer going so much to the migrant houses [run by the Church], but are instead camping on the bridges so they don’t lose their place to have their asylum request processed. This has required us to adapt and go out to them, bringing food and clothing, providing them the support that we can.\u201d
In addition, the Church continues to serve those who come to migrant houses and service centers, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also stressed that the bishops \u201cwill continue our dialogue with the authorities of our countries so that the life, dignity and fundamental rights of all people continue to be respected\u2026 and that situations forcing many people to migrate \u2013 such as poverty, inequality and violence \u2013 will be eliminated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mexican bishop emphasized that it is key to \u201ccontinue above all our task of evangelization, which is the best way to create a culture that respects, promotes and defends the life, dignity and rights of all people, particularly migrants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Society must realize that they have been entrusted by God with the wellbeing of migrants, he said, \u201cso that we can, as the pope says, welcome them, integrate them, protect them and help them along.\u201d
Evangelization fosters this whole process, Bishop Lira said, \u201cbecause it leads us to an awareness that we are all children of the same Father, and therefore brothers. We cannot see the other person as something, but someone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe invitation that Jesus makes to us to \u2018Do unto others as we would have others do unto us\u2019 will always continue to be timely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the end of their recent semi-annual meeting, Catholic bishops from dioceses along the Texas-Mexico border lamented the challenges facing migrants and called on governments to welcome newcomers and help them adjust to life in a new country. \u201cWe are filled with mourning that many people seeking a better future have lost their lives\u201d in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":15839,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n