Long Island Wins together with our allies recently held a forum featuring interfaith leaders as well as leaders from labor and business, who all united in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Despite the different backgrounds of these groups, they all have a shared mission of helping to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Starting this Sunday, September 8, Catholic groups across the country will hold masses, pilgrimages, and meet with legislators to voice their support for commonsense immigration reform.
“Now is the time for the Catholic faithful to let their elected officials know that they support immigration reform,” said Archbishop José Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration. “We are an immigrant church. The Church nationwide has grown with the nation and has helped integrate immigrants into American culture for generations. We are called by our faith to reach our hands out to the immigrant and assist them where possible, and pushing to change the law is one example of that.”
Masses and events will be held in 22 states. Cities holding Masses and events the weekend of September 8 include Los Angeles; Brooklyn, New York; Chicago; San Francisco; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Tampa Bay, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; Cincinnati; St. Louis; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Miami; Hartford, Connecticut; Kansas City, Missouri; Kansas City, Kansas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Arlington, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Salt Lake City and Indianapolis, Indiana.
Other events during the month-long period include pilgrimages and educational events, such as public forums. Materials highlighting church teaching on immigration reform will be distributed in many dioceses. Bishops, diocesan officials and parish representatives also will be meeting with their House members to convey the Catholic Church’s position on immigration reform. Additional Masses and events will be announced as information becomes available. A listing of scheduled events can be found here.
General information on the Catholic Church’s position on immigration can be found here.
