Hartford鈥檚 archbishop is one of 216 Catholic bishops in the U.S. speaking out on immigration. Archbishop Christopher Coyne said last week鈥檚 statement was only the first step.
鈥淲e were given the statement ahead of time, and we were asked for some feedback. Initially, the feedback that came forward, not only in our region, but in other regions, is that we didn't think the language was strong enough. The language started out with things like, 鈥榳e're concerned鈥� or 鈥榳e've observed these things,鈥� but we all felt that it had to be more direct,鈥� Coyne said.
The , which passed on a 216-5 vote with three abstentions, condemns the Trump administration鈥檚 methods in recent deportations.
鈥淲e are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement. We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants,鈥� the statement said. 鈥淲e are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.鈥�
Faith leaders also call for 鈥渕eaningful reform of our nation鈥檚 immigration laws and procedures.鈥�
Coyne said the work will continue, whether or not that call is heeded.
鈥淸Immigrants] are afraid to go to jobs because they're afraid of getting round up. And so they're facing food insecurity, and we're trying to help them with that,鈥� Coyne said. 鈥淲e're trying to tell them: Get documents together that say 鈥� if something happens, they do get arrested or picked up 鈥� who's going to take care of their children.鈥�
Coyne said the Archdiocese of Hartford and dioceses across the country will be offering 鈥渒now your rights鈥� programs, aiming to educate priests and staff.
But what can a Catholic sitting in the pews do, in this call to love thy immigrant neighbor?
鈥淚 would encourage them to write to their governmental representatives and to speak,鈥� Coyne said. 鈥淣ot necessarily against the laws as they are written, but the way they're being enforced.鈥�
The nonpartisan think tank estimates that, as of 2023, about , or more than 267,000 people, are non-citizens. That includes some of the state鈥檚 large Latino population.
Across the U.S., Latinos make up and Coyne says there are many other followers of the faith with immigration concerns.
鈥淲hen you take in the other language groups, like the Brazilians, the Portuguese, the Haitians, and all those that are dealing with questions of immigrant status, it's a significantly large population of our people,鈥� Coyne said.
Pope Leo XIV, who is from the U.S. but , had previously called out recent immigration enforcement across the country. After the recent statement by U.S. bishops, he doubled down.
鈥淲hen people have lived good lives 鈥� many of them for 10, 15, 20 years 鈥� treating them in a way that is, to say the least, extremely disrespectful, and with instances of violence, is troubling," .
the Trump administration鈥檚 border czar, Tom Homan, responded to the statement by saying: 鈥淎 secure border saves lives. We're going to enforce the law, and by doing that, we save a lot of lives."
