Editor’s note: The following is a corporate statement endorsed by the Representative Assembly of the Sisters of Humility at its June meeting in Davenport.
It is being distributed to the press, Congressional representatives and to President Obama and his administration. The approximately 140 vowed members and 90 associate members of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary live and serve in 18 states as well as in Mexico, Canada and Haiti.
“We are quite concerned about the negative even hateful attitudes toward immigrants in our country. It is our hope that by offering some of the unknown facts about immigration and by joining our voices to those millions of others who share our beliefs we might be able to offer a positive influence in the debate,” said Sister Jeanie Hagedorn, CHM, peace and justice coordinator.
CHM Corporate Statement on Immigration
Current federal immigration laws are acknowledged to be inadequate in protecting the rights and dignity of immigrant people living in our country. The failure of Congress to enact federal legislative reform is currently resulting in efforts by some individual states to enact their own laws that discriminate against persons of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
In our CHM Mission Statement, we “commit ourselves as individuals and as a congregation to work for justice within the human family ….” The current intolerant treatment of immigrant persons obligates us as Christians to stand in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers by making a public statement of support for them.
The members of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary stand in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers and urge the U.S. Administration and Congress to enact fair and comprehensive Immigration Reform without delay. Legislation should reflect our own immigrant history, tradition and values as a nation: protecting and respecting the dignity of all people, acknowledging the value and contributions of immigrants, preserving the unity of families, and providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who desire to make their home in this country.
