蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

July 10 is the last day for US Border authorities to reunite children under 5 who were separated from their parents on the US Mexico border. On Sunday, the government revealed that only 54 of the 84 children still in detention will actually be reunited with their parents on Tuesday. Nine of the children鈥檚 parents have already been deported, nine others were released from detention and cannot be located in time, and 12 others are still in criminal custody.

What has recently become a headline the world over, is, unfortunately, all too familiar to those living on the US border with Mexico. Bishop Daniel Flores, of the border diocese of Brownsville in Texas, spoke with Pope about how he provides care for migrants who have just crossed the border and guidance to the wider community.

A smile, a welcome鈥�and more

Bishop Flores explained that his primary role is to make sure that services are provided to immigrant families in the area as 鈥渆fficiently and as humanely as possible, because that is the work of the Church鈥攖o respect the dignity of the people who are coming to us鈥�.

Ask him what is the first thing to offer to these migrants, and he鈥檒l tell you: 鈥淕ive them a smile, and a welcome that perhaps they haven鈥檛 seen anywhere since they left their country鈥�.

He relies on Catholic Charities, under the direction of Sr Norma Pimentel, to provide direct services, such as food and orientation, to families who have been released from detention and are headed to be reunited with family members in other parts of the country.

Why the Church is concerned

His second priority is teaching 鈥渧ery simply about why the Church is concerned about protecting the dignity of the immigrant and encouraging people to volunteer and to maintain that compassionate stance before these very excruciatingly painful experiences鈥�. He hopes that the Church will be a catalyst, attracting others to provide 鈥渃oncrete assistance to families who really are in distress鈥�.

It鈥檚 about mothers, and children, and dads鈥�

Bishop Flores said that the US Bishops have 鈥渁n enormous responsibility鈥� to form public opinion regarding why the law, which is not an end in itself, 鈥渕ust serve the human person鈥�. This is why the Bishops, he said, repeatedly call for a 鈥渃omprehensive reform of the entire immigration system 鈥� because it is not adequate to the human situation鈥�. He acknowledges that such reform is an ongoing process鈥攐ne in which 鈥渨hat gets lost in the whole discussion on a national level is the face of the persons affected鈥�. We鈥檙e talking about mothers, and children, and dads, and young people who left their country because they fear for their lives鈥�.