A top U.S. bishop has raised concerns that government actions could infringe on religious freedom by limiting the Catholic Church’s work helping migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke about this issue during a meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Migration issues, including delays in religious worker visas, were major topics at the meeting.
He acknowledged recent government scrutiny of faith-based border activities, such as attempts by the Texas attorney general to close down a Catholic nonprofit that has run shelters for migrants for many years.
“We want to follow the law, but if our freedom to do so is restricted, then our religious freedom is also restricted because we can’t practice the teachings of the Gospel,” Broglio said during a news conference on Thursday.
A vehicle is seen after it went into an embarkment (Via Baker County Sherrif Office)
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, who heads the USCCB’s migration committee, shared similar concerns: “We are worried about our ability to continue serving them freely.”
Faith leaders from various organizations have long been responsible for caring for tens of thousands of migrants on both sides of the border.
According to Broglio, bishops overseeing dioceses along the border are striving to honor both the Gospel and the law. However, he expressed caution about political considerations during an election year potentially hindering progress on addressing migration issues.
“We must continue to boldly proclaim the Gospel and work to persuade those in power to improve conditions in migrants’ home countries so that migration is not seen as the only option for survival,” Broglio said in his opening speech at the conference.
