ISN to Join Hundreds of Faith Leaders at Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children

BY ISN STAFF | July 17, 2019

On Thursday, July 18 on the Capitol Lawn in Washington, D.C., the Ignatian Solidarity Network will join a coalition of more than 200 Catholic sisters, priests, brothers, and lay Catholic advocates and immigrants, gathering to pressure the Trump administration and Congress to end the immoral and inhumane practice of detaining immigrant children. The leaders will gather for a press conference and a prayerful assembly before processing into the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda, where more than 60 Catholic leaders will engage in civil disobedience and risk arrest to draw attention to this moral crisis. 

“Images of immigrant children separated from family members and living in unsanitary, unhealthy conditions have outraged the nation in recent weeks,” said Christopher Kerr, the executive director of the Ignatian Solidarity Network. “The Ignatian Solidarity Network is one of a group of national Catholic social justice organizations taking broader public action to decry this treatment of children as a violation of human dignity and rights, contrary to core Catholic values and human rights.”

Several Catholic bishops have sent statements of support for this gathering and civil disobedience action. “St. Oscar Romero reminded us, there are not two categories of people, some born to have everything and others who can’t enjoy the happiness that God has created for all,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso. “In this moment of injustice for migrants and the poor, we people of faith are called to work for justice.”

In addition to ISN, the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology has signed on as a co-sponsor, and the event has been endorsed by Kino Border Initiative, Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice, The Center for Undocumented Students at Saint Peter’s University, Marquette University Center for Peacemaking, Fairfield Jesuit Community, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, Jesuit Refugee Service – Canada, Jesuits of the U.S. Central and Southern Province, Immaculate Conception Church in Albuquerque, NM, St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor, MI, Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University New Orleans, Gesu Parish in Milwaukee, WI, Schlegel Center for Service and Justice at Creighton University, USA Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus, Detroit Jesuit Community, The Encuentro Project, the Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought and the Ignatian Tradition, University of San Francisco Center for Community Service & Justice, Loyola University Maryland, Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, Marquette University Office of Mission & Ministry, Jesuits – USA Midwest, Center for the Human Rights of Children at Loyola University Chicago School of La, Marquette University High School, and Jesuits West.

Beyond the Jesuit network, participants and co-organizers include Catholic leaders and representatives from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Faith in Action; Faith in Public Life; DC Catholic Coalition; Network Advocates; Franciscan Action Network; Pax Christi USA; Conference of Major Superiors of Men; Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Sisters of the Good Shepherd National Advocacy Center; Stuart Center: Society of the Sacred Heart; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; and Congregation Action Network. 

Learn more or RSVP to join the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children.