A Statement of Concern from the 18th Provincial Chapter of the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province – January, 2025.
The Redemptorists of North America date back to 1832, a century after the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer was founded. That year, six Redemptorists sailed from Europe to the United States. From the beginning their mission included the care of marginalized immigrant populations. This commitment to serving immigrant communities has been an enduring hallmark of the Redemptorists’ ministry, continuing to the present day.
In alignment with the teachings of the Catholic Church, including the teachings of Saint Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, the Redemptorists affirm that migrants, regardless of their legal status, possess inherent human dignity that must be respected. The Church upholds the principle that the earth’s resources are meant for the benefit of all people. When individuals are unable to secure employment or provide for their families in their home countries, they have a moral right to seek work and safety elsewhere. While sovereign nations have the moral right and authority to regulate their borders, they are also called to create pathways that respect the rights of migrants.
Unfortunately, many migrants face harsh treatment, often exacerbated by enforcement practices in both transit and destination countries. These challenges underlie the necessity of government policies that uphold the basic human rights of all, including undocumented individuals. The threat of mass deportations, further endangers vulnerable communities.
In a world plagued by poverty, violence, and persecution, migration is often a matter of survival. Nations with the capacity to provide refuge are morally obligated to do so. The global community must ensure, at minimum, that migrants are granted the right to claim refugee status without fear of detention and that their cases are thoroughly and fairly assessed by competent authorities in a timely manner.
Motivated by humanitarian, legal, social, and economic concerns—including the racial profiling and deportation of vulnerable individuals—the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province, meeting during the Second Session of the 18th Provincial Chapter, join their voices with numerous community and religious organizations in urging U.S. leaders to defend the right of individuals to migrate in search of safety and opportunity.
Through this shared commitment, the Redemptorists continue to advocate for a just and compassionate approach to migration, rooted in the belief that all individuals, because of their inherent dignity, deserve respect.
Therefore,
- We will lobby our local politicians to reform the broken immigration system.
- We will make every effort to inform migrants of their rights and demand a fair and just process.
- We will encourage other efforts to defend the rights of immigrants and to keep families together.