Against the abolition of jus soli decided by the Trump administration, which would exclude from US citizenship the children of people without legal status or with temporary permits (study or work) present in the country, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has spoken out clearly and precisely, through Cardinal Joseph William Tobin CSsR, Archbishop of Newark this Friday, February 27, after the “Votive Mass of Solidarity with Migrants”, celebrated in the chapel of the University of St. Thomas, in Saint Paul, capital of Minnesota, at the close of the conference The Way Forward, which brought together some thirty prelates to talk about communication and evangelization in the digital age.
The bishops have called the measure eliminating jus soli “immoral.” It is worth noting that jus soli (Latin for “right of the soil”) is the legal principle that grants citizenship to any person born in a country, regardless of their parents’ citizenship. Unlike jus sanguinis (based on descent), this right is fully applied in the United States and partially in some European countries.
As reported by The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, echoing the “firm declaration” made by the bishops in support of migrants during their November assembly and the backing received from Leo XIV, stated that he was “personally very proud to see our Church on the side of those who suffer.”
After Mass, speaking to reporters, Cardinal Tobin, also responding to a question, defended the Church’s numerous positions on migrants: “To whom do we owe our ultimate loyalty, our ultimate obedience? The first commandment tells us: Do not worship false gods. Listen to the Lord your God.” It is in this context that the decision of the Episcopal Conference to appeal to the Supreme Court against the Trump administration’s abolition of birthright citizenship should be understood. They also spoke critically about the methods used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) against defenceless people.
(Scala News and other sources)
