Megan Pinney, of Dallas, center, reacts to a speaker while holding a candle during a vigil supporting immigrants and refugees in light of President Donald Trump’s travel ban, on Jan. 30 at Thanks-Giving Square in downtown Dallas. (Ben Torres/Special Contributor)
By Bishop Greg Kelly
Special to The Texas Catholic
One fruit of the president’s executive order putting a stop to immigration from seven majority Muslim countries for a period of 120 days has been confusion and chaos. The stated purpose of the order was to make our country safer, to call for a pause in the processes involved in people emigrating from these countries and fleeing as refugees from persecution and war; to allow for additional vetting procedures to be put in place.
The Catholic Church, around the world and here in Dallas, has been actively involved through Catholic Charities, in assisting with refugee resettlement, and in offering hospitality and assistance for those fleeing for their lives. We have done this regardless of the race, national background or religion of the persons coming to the United States. We do this because of our Catholic faith and we will continue to do this in whatever way possible, as mandated by the gospel and by the Lord whom we follow, who said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
There must have been some Egyptians who welcomed the Holy Family when they fled from a violent king.
Let us pray that God our Heavenly Father will bless all of us, especially our leaders, with wisdom, and compassion and that He will comfort, calm and give courage to all of those men, women and children who are fleeing for their lives, desperate to find safety from persecution.
Bishop Greg Kelly is an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Dallas.
