Catholic Leaders Stand With Dreamers at U.S. Capitol

BY ISN STAFF | February 28, 2018

As the March 5 deadline for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) looms, the Catholic community is escalating its demands for a compassionate response to the crisis faced by an estimated 800,000 Dreamers.

On Tuesday, February 27, hundreds of Catholic leaders gathered outside the Russell Senate Office Building to demand a clean DREAM Act as a part of a Catholic Day of Action with Dreamers organized by PICO National Network in partnership with Faith in Public Life and a coalition of Catholic social justice organizations, including the Ignatian Solidarity Network.  

Demands include a new policy which protects Dreamers while not harming their families and communities.

Kate Tromble (left) and ISN board member Charlotte Mahoney (right), parishioners at Jesuit parish Holy Trinity in Washington, D.C., with Bishop Stowe from the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky.

The day of action began with Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church on Capitol Hill, after which attendees processed to the Russell Senate Building for a short press conference highlighting the voices of Dreamers and Catholic faith leaders, including Fr. Thomas Reese, S.J., senior analyst at Religion New Service and former editor of America Magazine.

Fr. Thomas Reese, S.J. (center) with other Catholic leaders outside the Russell Senate Building.

“Giving legal status to Dreamers is not a political issue. it is a moral issue,” said Fr. Reese to those assembled during the press conference. “I am here missioned by my provincial to represent the Jesuits who work on the west coast of the United States because we know the Dreamers. They are our students sitting in our classrooms. They are our parishioners kneeling in our churches. They are our friends. They are our colleagues… It is time to pass the Dream Act. It is time to do what is right. It is time to do what is just.”

Catholic Day of Action With Dreamers attendees in the Russell Senate Building rotunda, with Catholic leaders preparing to risk arrest. [Jack Jenkins via Twitter]

Fr. Tom Reese, S.J., was arrested in the Russel Senate Buiding rotunda [Svět a víra via Twitter]

Following the action in the Russell Rotunda, nearly 200 Catholic leaders made visits to congressional offices to ensure that members of Congress recognize the strong commitment of the Catholic community to stand in solidarity with Dreamers, their families and communities. Participants included Catholic Dreamers, Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, priests, women religious, religious brothers, and allies.

View video coverage of Catholic Day of Action with Dreamers from Catholic News Service: