The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says its long-standing refugee program is a “work of mercy”, after Vice President JD Vance criticised the bishops’ positions on immigration issues. Source: CNA.
Mr Vance had made the remarks during an interview on Sunday with Margaret Brennan on CBS News’ “Face the Nation”.
Ms Brennan had asked Vance, who is Catholic, about the USCCB’s criticism last week of the Trump Administration’s various directives on immigration, specifically the Government’s rescinding of the policy that restricted immigration arrests at “sensitive locations” such as churches.
Mr Vance responded that “as a practicing Catholic” he was “heartbroken” by the bishops’ criticisms.
“And I think that the [USCCB] needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognise that when they receive over $US100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns?” Mr Vance continued.
“Or are they actually worried about their bottom line? We’re going to enforce immigration law. We’re going to protect the American people.”
The USCCB on Sunday argued that its own work with refugees is part of a “long history” of Catholic advocacy for vulnerable migrants.
“In 1980, the bishops of the United States began partnering with the federal government to carry out this service when Congress created the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP),” the bishops said in the statement, which did not mention Mr Vance.
“Every person resettled through USRAP is vetted and approved for the program by the federal government while outside of the United States,” they said.
“In our agreements with the government, the USCCB receives funds to do this work; however, these funds are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of these programs.
“Nonetheless, this remains a work of mercy and ministry of the Church.”
Though the US bishops last week praised some of Mr Trump’s directives such as his order asserting the “biological reality of sex”, USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio said he took issue with other orders from the White House, such as the immigration directives and the White House’s withdrawing from the Paris Agreement climate accord.
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U.S. bishops say refugee program is ‘work of mercy’ after criticism from vice president (By Daniel Payne, CNA)
