News Release #423

Minnesota Catholic Bishops Call for Compassionate Dialogue on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Saint Paul, MN – On the two year anniversary of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid of the Swift and Co. meatpacking plant in Worthington, the Minnesota Catholic Bishops are asking Catholics throughout the state to renew their commitment to welcoming newcomers. Anti-immigrant sentiment continues to divide communities throughout Minnesota and recent immigration raids have had a devastating impact on immigrant families and our rural communities. In the context of a new administration and new Congress, the Minnesota Catholic Bishops will release a joint statement calling for comprehensive immigration reform and strategies to reduce global poverty.

Representatives of both the Minnesota and United States ’ Conferences of Catholic Bishops will discuss the long term fallout from the Swift raid and announce the launch of the statewide “Immigration Sunday,” set for January 4, 2009. The statewide celebration will serve as an opportunity for education and reflection in the Catholic community about biblical teachings on immigration and the reality faced by so many hard working immigrant families and the need to fix our broken immigration system.

WHO: The Most Reverend Bishop Bernard J. Harrington, Diocese of Winona

Sister Karen Thein, SSND, Hispanic Ministry Coordinator, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Worthington, Minnesota Sister Anna Marie Reha, SSND, Director of Hispanic Ministry, Diocese of New Ulm

Mr. Kevin Appleby, Director, Migration and Refugee Policy, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

WHAT: Release of Bishops’ Statement on Immigration (Welcoming Our Immigrant Sisters and Brothers) and Launch of Statewide Immigration Sunday

WHEN: Tuesday, December 16 at 1:00 p.m. Central Time

DIAL-IN: 800-895-1085 PASSCODE: BISHOPS

The Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota.