World Refugee Day Statement

The Catholic Church in the United States represents the largest private refugee resettlement organization in the world, helping refugees of all religious traditions. For World Refugee Day, the bishops issued a statement that reads, in part:

Today, many nationalities are among the world’s refugee population because of unrest and violence in their homelands—Congolese fleeing their war-torn nation;Rohingya Burmese fleeing persecution from their government; Colombians fleeing guerilla groups; Iraqisfleeing war and an unstable security environment in their homeland; and now Syrians fleeing internal strife.The global community, including the United States, must continue to respond to their dire conditions.  

Another refugee crisis is emerging—Syrians fleeing turmoil and violence.The countries of Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey are to be commended for receiving these refugees.I urge the United States and the world community to assist them.We pray that the fighting in Syria ends.  

My brother bishops and I remain troubled by the plight of Iraqis who have fled their country because of religious persecution, and urge our government to assist the Iraqi government in protecting them and other Iraqis who live in fear of persecution.  

The Catholic Church in the United States does respond to the plight of the world’s refugees, in answer to the call of the Gospel to welcome the stranger.Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, assisted by diocesan Catholic Charities offices around the nation, resettles as many as 20,000 refugees a year in the United States.The Catholic Church in the United States, through these agencies, represents the largest private refugee resettlement organization in the world.Catholic Relief Services (CRS) provides support to refugee populations overseas.We help refugees of all religious traditions.  

I urge the U.S. government to continue to work with us to assist refugees.In the last two years, we have witnessed a decrease in the number of refugees being served by our U.S. refugee program.This is in part because of additional security processes, but also because of a lack of political will.As a result, Iraqis already accepted for the U.S. program—women and children particularly—and other at-risk populations remain in danger.  

. . .  

In the face of the refugee, we see the face of Christ.As we celebrate World Refugee Day, let us continue to welcome the refugee into our hearts and homes.

The rest of the statement is here.