Bishops divided over Trump orders on migrants

Differences are emerging among US bishops in their responses to President Donald Trump’s executive orders restricting refugees from certain Muslim countries, building a wall on the US-Mexican border, and stopping federal funds from going to so-called “sanctuary cities” that shelter undocumented migrants, writes Michael Sean Winters.

Three statements issued by the US bishops’ conference express “concern” and state that the bishops “strongly disagree” with certain aspects of the policy that the President is implementing. The statements were issued in the name of Bishop Joe Vasquez who chairs the Migration Committee, not from the President of the conference, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo.

In a column in his diocesan paper, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia did not mention the executive orders, and instead called attention to Trump’s critics.

“Some of the harshest fury directed at [Trump] has nothing to do with his character. It’s a very special brand of ‘progressive’ intolerance for the approach his administration may take toward a range of social issues, including abortion. It involves a visceral media and leadership-class contempt for people [who] march in defence of the unborn child.”

Conversely, after Mr Trump signed the executive orders, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark sent out a tweet that read: “A fearful nation talks about building walls. We must challenge the fear before we are led into darkness.” Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago stated: “The world is watching as we abandon our commitments to American values.” Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego said: “This executive order is the introduction into law of campaign sloganeering rooted in xenophobia and religious prejudice.” Washington  Cardinal Donald Wuerl wrote to his priests: “We raise our voices [for] all refugees, especially those fleeing religious persecution.”