Arizona

In 2005 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield committed themselves to being an informed, compassionate advocate for people who are poor and marginalized.  Moved by that commitment, Sr. Mary Quinn (picture at right), President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, wrote a letter to the editor of the Springfield Republican about the bill passed in Arizona designed to address that state's concerns about illegal immigrants within its borders.  The letter was published on May 4, 2010.

"When Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the law cracking down on illegal immigrants, she unleashed a storm of controversy.  There are strong supporters who say Arizona must act because the federal government has not done so and there are strong opponents who see the ruling as an unconstitutional affront that will lead to racial profiling.

It does seem that the Gospel as well as the Bill of Rights call us to recognize one another as human beings with unalienable rights.  Requiring police to check the citizenship status of a person because of a suspicion that the person might be here illegally encourages xenophobia and makes discrimination legal.  There are many legal challenges to this law being mounted in Arizona from Phoenix police officers to the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.  It is my hope that the legal challenges will succeed and immigration reform - a need expressed across the religious and political spectrums - will be enacted in a manner that enhances the common good and reflects our country's highest ideals."

The US Catholic bishops are and have been strong advocates for immigration reform.  The climate in Washington now makes immigration reform a very difficult task.