The Sisters of Charity of New York applaud the courageous and unequivocal statement issued today by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops opposing the “indiscriminate mass deportation of people.” Their words acknowledge a truth we see daily in our ministries: immigrants and asylum seekers are not statistics or threats — they are families, workers, neighbors, and beloved children of God.
As women rooted in the Vincentian–Setonian charism, we affirm the bishops’ insistence that while nations have a legitimate right to safeguard their borders, this right can never justify dehumanizing policies, fear-driven rhetoric, or the separation of families. The bishops’ call echoes long-standing teachings of the Church: that human dignity is universal, family unity is sacred, and the vulnerable must never be abandoned to suffering.
We stand in solidarity with:
- immigrants and mixed-status families who live each day with fear, uncertainty, and grief;
- Catholic parishes, schools, and community organizations accompanying them with compassion;
- and Church leaders who speak the truth at a moment when truth is costly.
We join the bishops in urging our elected officials to reject punitive, large-scale deportation measures and to pursue comprehensive immigration reform grounded in justice, mercy, and respect for human dignity. Our ministries at Vincent’s Table, LEFSA (Life Experience and Faith Sharing Associates), POTS (Part of the Solution), and throughout our wider community attest to the profound contributions immigrants make to the life of our Church and our nation.
This is a hopeful moment. The bishops’ unified voice reminds us that the Gospel still speaks — and that the Church must continue to proclaim the dignity of every human person, especially when that dignity is under assault.
With gratitude and resolve,
The Sisters of Charity of New York
