U.S. Catholic Bishops Issue Rare Special Message Calling for Compassion and Reform on Immigration

In a strong and unusually unified statement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a special pastoral message on immigration, expressing deep concern for immigrant families and urging the nation to treat all people with dignity. This marks the first time in 12 years that the bishops have issued this kind of urgent collective message.

A Growing Call to Speak Out

The statement comes amid rising tension and uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. Many bishops say they’re hearing increased fear from parishioners, pastors, and immigrant families in their communities.

Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning said the sense that “we have to say something” had been “bubbling up” among bishops for months.

“We’re pastors,” he explained in an interview. “We care about the people we serve, and what we’re hearing from them is fear and suffering. It’s hard not to respond to that.”

Henning emphasized that the bishops were not aiming to score political points but to offer moral and pastoral guidance. “The beliefs of the Church have political consequences,” he said, “but they’re not political in the usual sense of the word.”

‘A Climate of Fear and Anxiety’

In the message, released late Wednesday afternoon, the bishops describe widespread fear among immigrants:

• Worries about profiling and immigration enforcement

• Vilification of immigrants in public debate

• Concerning conditions in detention centers and limited access to pastoral care

• Families losing legal status arbitrarily

• Parents afraid to take children to school

• Loved ones being separated with little warning

“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety,” the bishops wrote. “We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants.”

The bishops also noted that immigrants—despite facing significant hardship—have “made enormous contributions” to the nation.

A Patriotic and Moral Appeal

Declaring their love for the United States, the bishops said this moment requires moral clarity.

“We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity,” the statement said. “For this very reason, we feel compelled now… to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity.”

Catholic Teaching: Security and Dignity Are Not Opposed

The message outlines three core principles of Catholic social teaching on immigration:

1. People have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families.

2. Nations have the right to regulate their borders.

3. Governments must regulate with justice and mercy.

Archbishop Henning noted that the Church rejects both chaos and cruelty. “Catholic teaching doesn’t like chaos,” he said, “because chaos often produces great injustice for the most vulnerable. But it’s possible to go too far the other way too.”

The bishops insist that national security and human dignity “are not in conflict,” and that safe, legal immigration pathways protect people from trafficking and exploitation.

A Scriptural Foundation

As pastors, the bishops said their concern flows directly from Scripture’s call to protect the vulnerable:

• The widow, the orphan, and the stranger (Zechariah 7:10)

• Christ who became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9)

• The Good Samaritan lifting the fallen (Luke 10:30–37)

• Christ present in “the least of these” (Matthew 25)

“The Church’s concern for immigrants is a response to the Lord’s command to love as he has loved us,” they wrote.

Overwhelming Support — and Debate Over Key Language

The message received near-unanimous approval and a standing ovation. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, the newly elected USCCB president, praised the document for its “balance” and its commitment to both compassion and reform.

A notable debate emerged around adding language denouncing “indiscriminate mass deportation.” After discussion about wording and process, the bishops approved the amendment. The final text now states:

“We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.”

The message also reiterates previous Catholic teaching that deportation, when carried out unjustly, can be a violation of human dignity. The bishops cited St. John Paul II and Vatican II’s teaching that such actions can be “a disgrace” and “a negation of the honor due to the Creator.”

A Unified Response to Widespread Suffering

Archbishop Henning said the strong vote reflects a real unity built from shared pastoral experience.

“What we’re experiencing on the ground,” he said, “is a great deal of suffering and confusion—and even chaos.”

Immigrants, he added, are facing “arbitrariness” in how policies are carried out, generating deep fear in communities.

Despite differing backgrounds and viewpoints, the bishops agreed: the moment demands a clear moral voice.