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December 12, 2011 Catholic Sisters launch "Welcoming Communities" for immigration reform Ten communities of Catholic Sisters based in the Upper Mississippi River Valley are calling on President Obama and Congress to work together to enact comprehensive immigration reform. To make their point, they have issued a statement on "Welcoming Communities," they are placing billboards in the Quad Cities, Des Moines, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Clinton, Iowa, this month in advance of the Iowa caucuses to make sure delegates, potential candidates and voters remember this critical issue, and they are holding prayer services at the billboard sites and at their headquarters on December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the day the billboards will be posted. The billboards with the message: "I was a stranger an immigrant and you welcomed me" will remain through early January. The message, based on the words of Jesus, is taken from the Gospel of Matthew. "We declare ourselves 'Welcoming Communities' in affirmation of our Catholic tradition that holds sacred the dignity of each person," the Sisters said in the official statement," and we invite other communities and people of faith to join us in becoming 'Immigrant Welcoming Communities' through prayer, reflection, education and action." "Our 'Welcoming Communities' stance is a direct response to the government's 'Secure Communities' program which has transformed local police officers into a primary gateway for deportation," explained the Sisters. "The results have been hundreds of thousands of detentions and deportations, serious civil and human rights concerns, due process violations and damaged trust between immigrant communities and local police." They further noted that "the 'Secure Communities' process was marketed to local law enforcement agencies as a way to deal with serious and dangerous criminals. In fact, low-priority, non-violent offenders or even lawful permanent residents are being funneled into this program which is breaking up families, promoting racial profiling, and fueling a fear-filled and hateful anti-immigrant atmosphere." National immigration reform organizations assert that the 'Secure Communities" program has actually made communities less safe because many individuals are afraid to report crimes that they experience or witness for fear of being deported or having neighbors, family members or friends deported. As a result, they state, crimes are going unreported and communities, rather than becoming "secure" are living in fear. "Failure on the part of the federal government to reform the present unworkable immigration system has resulted in states passing legislation that is punitive and harmful to human rights," noted the Sisters. "We understand that enforcement of law is part of any immigration policy," the Sisters emphasized. "However, the present policy of involving state and local law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of federal immigration law, such as in the 'Secure Communities' program, is not achieving that goal. True security lies in building relationships and respecting human rights and only true, comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform can deal with the crisis in our nation. Therefore, we are declaring ourselves Immigrant Welcoming Communities." "Welcoming
Communities" is a project of the following congregations: Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, Wis. tbuxton@sinsinawa.org Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Ia. aconnolly@bvmcong.org Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, Ia. lmartin@chmiowa.org Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, Ia. jane@dubuquepresentations.org Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Ia. sisters@clintonfranciscns.com Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Ia. brookensp@osfdbq.org Sisters of St. Benedict, Rock Island, Ill. sflansburgpr@smmsisters.org Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, Wis. jcomeau@fspa.org Sisters of the Visitation, Dubuque, Ia. tclark02636@yahoo.com Sisters of Mercy, West-Midwest Region, Omaha, Neb. sgoetzinger@mercywmw.org For
more information, visit www.facebook.com/catholicsisters.
NOTE TO MEDIA: For interviews in Dubuque contact Patricia Farrell OSF (563-583-9786) or, from Dec. 19-31, 2011, Marge Healy PBVM (563-588-2008); in Des Moines, Sr. Marilyn Jean Hagedorn CHM (515-277-6617); in Davenport/Quad Cities, Sr. Johanna Rickl, CHM, 563-336-8402.
For information on how to subscribe to the publications from the Sisters of St. Francis, click on NEWSLETTERS on the left. | Featured NewsMcCarthy and Empson to Receive MLK Peace and Justice Award on SundayWhen our community holds its 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration this Sunday, the 10th annual MLK Peace and Justice Award will be presented to Sallyann McCarthy and Ge... [MORE] Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance Retreat Attracts 150 to Kansas City Ruth E. Westmoreland OSF, Jan Cebula OSF and Mary Smith OSF joined Catholic Workers and friends from across the country at the semi-annual retreat held on May 1st - the 78th annive... [MORE] Speech & Hearing Center Danceathon Hilary Mullany OSF, Jan Cebula OSF, Joan Theiss OSF and Martinelle Bonnell OSF took their turn helping at the Danceathon held in April at Ashford University to benefit the MSC Spee... [MORE] Sister Bertha Zeiser Turns 100 Sister Bertha Zeiser's 100th birthday party on February 25th was joyously celebrated at a Mass and luncheon at The Canticle, home of the Clinton Franciscans. Rosalie Noder OSF deli... [MORE] Sister Margaret DeWit Turns 100 Sister Margaret DeWit celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at a Mass and party at The Canticle in April. In honor of the former librarian, $100 was donated to the ... [MORE] Corporate Stand on Immigration Announced Following voting by Sisters, Sojourners and Associates this spring, the congregation's corporate public position on immigration was approved and is now issued as the official... [MORE] View All News Featured EventsFeb 26th, 2012 - Lenten Vespers (more)Feb 26th, 2012 - Sustainable Clinton: The Power of Community (more) Feb 29th, 2012 - Peace Soup (more) Mar 1st, 2012 - Community Garden meeting (more) Mar 23rd, 2012 - Lenten Retreat (more) View All Events |
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