Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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Immigration is a natural right

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This week is National Migration Week, a campaign of the American bishops aimed at comprehensive immigration reform in order to legalize 11 million undocumented immigrants. The campaign has five goals: Provide a path to citizenship for undocumented persons;
preserve family unity as a cornerstone of our national immigration system; provide legal paths for low-skilled immigrant workers to come and work in the United States; restore due process protections to immigration enforcement policies; address the root causes of migration caused by persecution and economic disparity.

Since 1975 the Immigration and Legal Services (ILS) department of Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc. has provided a broad range of immigration counseling and representation to immigrants and their families. Thousands of immigrants from Mesoamerica, Europe, Africa and Asia have been assisted by Catholic Charities ILS.

Migration is a major biblical theme. Abraham’s family moved to Canaan and then to Egypt. Jacob and his sons made their way to Egypt, and the Israelites made their exodus to the Promised Land. The people of Israel returned to Judah from exile, and, of course, there was Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem and their flight into Egypt. All were journeys of hope, either for refuge or a better life.

Which of us does not have ancestors who migrated to Texas, by ship or plane from Africa, Europe, Asia, and Central America or by foot across the Bering land bridge? But our memories are short and we need to be reminded from whence we came as God reminded the Israelites: “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:20.

Recently an Hispanic friend was astonished to learn of the manner in which the German and Irish immigrants were treated in the mid 19th century, commenting, “I thought we were the only ones treated that way.” Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that: we all “belong to one family, migrants and the local populations that welcome them, and all have the same right to enjoy the goods of the earth whose destination is universal, as the social doctrine of the Church teaches.”

Immigration is a natural right, as Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles noted recently: “The right to life implies the right to emigrate — to leave our country if we must, to seek a better life for our families and ourselves. In a world divided by war, famine, persecution, and economic dislocations, immigration becomes a crucial guarantee of our right to life.” That right, the archbishop said; “does not depend on the whims of politicians or powerful people. That right does not depend on economic or political forces. Our rights come from God. And no man, no institution, and no set of circumstances can justify denying those rights.”

Support the work of Catholic Charities…and have a great evening

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“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:27

Of all the works of the Church, it is the work of Catholic Charities that best continues the ministry of Jesus who came to serve not be served.(Matt 20:28). Unfortunately many of the works of Catholic Charities are not well known because they are done quietly and without fanfare.

Their work began one year after Diocese of Dallas was erected when a Catholic orphanage was opened on Page Street in Oak Cliff in 1891. That has grown into today’s Children and Adoption Services and Community Outreach that creates hope for families and individuals through adoption placement, and counseling for expectant mothers and families.

Help with food, clothing and other necessities is provided to families and individuals in need. The Elderly and Family Services Program at Catholic Charities provides seniors with hot meals, activities, health screenings and other assistance to support their personal independence and physical and emotional well-being.

More than any other entity in the country Catholic Charities of Dallas works with the United States government to shelter refugees who fled their homeland in fear of persecution and death. The Immigration and Legal Services Department was established in 1975 in response to the growing number of immigrants moving into North Texas. The Refugee Resettlement Program provides a variety of services to assist refugees in cultural orientation, learning English, finding a job and training in work skills.

These and a number of other services of Catholic Charities are beneficiaries of the 19th Annual Bishop’s Gala to be held January 22 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Comedian Bill Cosby will be the featured entertainer.

Please come and share a wonderful evening of laughter and hope at Reaching for the Stars with Comedian and Actor Bill Cosby. You will be the real star for helping support the work of Catholic Charities of Dallas. If you cannot make the Gala, please consider making a donation to Catholic Charities online at their website at www.catholiccharitiesdallas.org.

“It is the love of Christ that motivates us” 2 Cor 5:14

November is National Adoption Month

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All children are a blessing, but an adopted child is a special blessing, not only for the adopted parents, but for the child and the birth parents. Adoption is an unselfish choice by the birth parents who want to give their child a stable home, but for whatever reason, cannot provide one. It is also an unselfish act by the adoptive parents who covenant to love, protect and nurture the child. It is truly a profound example of adults working together for the good of a child.

There are interesting examples of this type of unselfish love in Holy Scripture: Moses given up by his mother (Exodus 2:1-10), Queen Esther being adopted by her uncle (Esther 2:7), and the mother of Samuel surrendering her son to Eli as a gift to God. (1 Samuel 1:22-28).

There are members of my staff who are adoptive parents or are awaiting an adopted child. One adoptive mother told me “when I first held my baby in my arms I knew that God meant this child for me.” For parents hoping to adopt, this very important matchmaking process can take as long as 24 months, after they have been screened and qualified.

An important ministry of our diocese is to assist parents who wish to adopt a child through the Children and Adoption Services and Community Outreach program of Catholic Charities. Through the program, Catholic Charities works with women who are pregnant and trying to decide the most loving, responsible choices about the future of their children. If an adoption plan is their choice, Catholic Charities will facilitate the placement.

Typically children being placed for adoption are infants between 2 days old and six months but there are also programs for adoption of older children over six. Catholic Charities practices open adoption which promotes a positive and respectful relationship between the birth parents, the adoptive parents and the child. As a result, these children grow up knowing the love of their adoptive parents with the opportunity to also know their birth parents.

Because adoption is a very serious matter involving a lifelong commitment, adoptive parents must meet certain criteria and are required to complete 16 hours of adoptive education. If you, or someone you know, are considering adoption, Catholic Charities will offer an informational program for prospective adoptive parents on November 30. For full information on Catholic Charities adoption services you may visit their website at www.catholiccharitiesdallas.org or phone 214-526-2772.

While adoption is an unselfish choice on the part of the adoptive parents and the birth parents, all involved are blessed with benefits. Birth parents know their child is in a home with parents who want and are prepared for a family. Adoptive parents receive the life-changing blessing and joy of a child, and most importantly, a child receives the priceless gift of a loving family.

Why don’t THEY do something about it?

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What if I told you that the entire population of Tarrant County was living below the poverty level? Well it is not, but 1.8 million Texas children under 18 , slightly more than the Tarrant County population, are. I find it incredible, I find it shocking and shameful that more than one of every four of our children is living in poverty.

Of course that is only the tip of the iceberg. Those children are just part of the 4.3 million Texans living below the poverty level. What is the poverty level? According to Federal Guidelines it is $10,830 a year for a single person and $22,050 for a family of four.

Texas has the sixth highest poverty rate in the nation.

Food banks are struggling. Catholic Charities has had close to 40,000 calls for assistance and have had resources to handle only ten percent.

People are responding. Catholic Charities food pantries that were down to only a few cans earlier in the summer have been restocked by an emergency food drive. Because of the generosity of people more than 800 additional people were fed.

A part of the problem is that often times those in poverty are invisible. They are not necessarily on street corners, they are our neighbors who have lost a job and been out of work for six months or a year. Catholic charities officials tell us that for many of these people it is very difficult to seek assistance.

It is not just A problem; it is not THEIR problem, it is OUR problem. We each must help through our parish, through St. Vincent de Paul Society, through Catholic Charities, through person-to-person help. Not soon, but now. If not now, when? If not you, who?

I am writing this on the feast of St. Matthew who reminded us of Jesus words:


‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ Matt: 25

 

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