USA: Helping refugees 'is not rocket science. Its Christianity'

DG Vance - ICN Screenshot

Source: USCCB, CBS

In his first interview since becoming US Vice President, JD Vance yesterday expressed his support for President Trump's draconian orders to deport millions of unregistered migrant workers, and authorise raids on schools and churches sheltering them.

He voiced his disappointment at the US Bishops who have issued several statements condemning the plans. Vance suggested churches have just been helping refugees in order to profit from government grants.

Vance told CBS: ".. as a practicing Catholic, I was actually heartbroken by that statement. And I think that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line? We're going to enforce immigration law. We're going to protect the American people."

"I think the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has, frankly, not been a good partner in commonsense immigration enforcement that the American people voted for, and I hope, again, as a devout Catholic, that they'll do better," Vance said.

The USCCB is one of ten national resettlement agencies that receive federal funding and partner with local organizations to assist refugee populations that qualify for federal assistance. Those populations include people resettled via the US refugee admissions program, certain groups of vulnerable noncitizen children, and certain other groups such as victims of human trafficking and torture.

In a statement yesterday regarding their work with refugees the USCCB said: 'Faithful to the teaching of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church has a long history of serving refugees.'

'In 1980, the bishops of the United States began partnering with the federal government to carry out this service when Congress created the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Every person resettled through USRAP is vetted and approved for the program by the federal government while outside of the United States. 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.'

Fr James Martin SJ wrote on his Facebook page today:

'The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic bishops, priests and deacons, sisters and brothers, and lay men and women from around the world (including myself, for two years in East Africa), help migrants and refugees not because the migrants and refugees are Catholics, though many of them are, especially along the US/Mexico border. And, pace, Vice President JD Vance, it's not for financial gain either, which is at best a laughable suggestion, at worst a lie (which is a sin, btw). The church cares for migrants and refugees because this is what Jesus asks us to do, when he says that to welcome the "stranger" is to welcome him (Mt 25).

'And, more pointedly, that to *not* welcome the stranger is to not welcome Jesus himself. That command may be personally challenging, difficult to carry out (as it almost always is, for individuals, communities and nations), or even threatening to your worldview, but let's be clear: you don't need a PhD in New Testament studies to understand what Jesus is saying here. It's not rocket science. It's Christianity.'

LINKS

Bishop makes direct appeals to Trump at Inaugural Prayer Service + video link
www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51561

US Bishops condemn Trump's immigration orders
www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51571