The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend leader Monday denounced false claims about Catholic Charities, stressing the resettlement agency participates in pathways for legal immigration and supports survivors of human trafficking while operating such programs at a fiscal deficit.
Bishop Kevin Rhoades issued a one-page statement about the topic in response to statements alleging the opposite. He blamed appcertain news outletsapp for continued promotion of untrue assertions without naming the media entities.
The falsities appear to stem from comments Vice President JD Vance made last week on CBS during appFace the Nation with Margaret Brennan.app
Brennan noted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned President Donald Trumpapps executive orders about allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter churches and schools. She asked Vance whether he supports such conduct.
appI think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?app Vance told Brennan.
Rhoades, who is also board chairman of the local Catholic Charities, said the agency follows the Gospel imperative to serve the most vulnerable and is in alignment with the belief that everyone is created in Godapps image.
appThis does not mean that we support open borders and disregard the rule of law,app Rhoades said. appWhile the Catholic Church recognizes and respects the right of every nation to regulate its borders for the common good, we must balance this with the rights of vulnerable migrants to access protection, and with the fundamental right of all to life and dignity as human persons; as well as the rights of parents and the family, the cradle of life and love, the first and most vital cell of society.app
Catholic Charities is a contracted resettlement agency working under the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In its latest fiscal year, it received $3 million in contract revenue and spent $3.2 million to administer the program, Rhoades said.
appFunds received are used to provide financial support for the first 90 to 240 days after arrival, until the refugee families become economically self-sufficient; provide immigration legal services as they study to become U.S. citizens; as well as to partially pay for the staff that provide those services,app he said.
Rhoades also provided information about the U.S. Refugee Admission Program app another topic about which he said false statements have circulated.
This program is the formal process by which people are legally resettled in the United States as refugees, Rhoades said, noting it is distinct from the asylum process.
appAny person resettled through USRAP is first screened, vetted, and approved by the U.S. government while outside of the United States,app Rhoades said. appThey also receive medical evaluations, a cultural orientation and other services that maximize their ability to successfully integrate and contribute productively to American communities.app
Rhoades said he is grateful for the contributions refugees and immigrants provide to the community.
appDuring this time in our nation, I particularly ask the Catholic faithful to remember Jesus, Mary, and Joseph app the Holy Family app who were compelled to leave their land and migrate to Egypt,app the bishop said. appLet us pray to the Holy Family for migrant families compelled to leave their homelands because of violence, extreme poverty, or persecution and are now exposed to grave danger. May the Lord protect them and may the Lord inspire our nation to exercise justice and compassion.app
