Compassion Not Cruelty

Rosary Service Brings ‘Prayerful, Peaceful Presence’ to NJ Immigrant Detention Facility In response to rising tensions at the Delaney Hall immigrant detention facility in Newark, the Archdiocese of Newark held a prayer service about half a mile from its entrance.

🕯️From this week's prayer liturgy: mfsaweb.org/candle

This week, we light the Candle of Peace, Hope, and Justice for members of our communities who are detained and dehumanized because of their immigration status. We pray for people at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, who are participating in a hunger and labor strike in protest of poor living conditions, spoiled food, and inadequate medical care. We pray for their families, worried and lacking information, for people arrested while peacefully protesting outside the facility, and for journalists endangered while covering the protests.

God, help us to remember that no one is defined by their immigration status and that everyone is part of the beloved community. Everyone, no matter where they come from or what their paperwork status is, deserves to have their inherent dignity and humanity recognized and honored.

We pray for law enforcement, that they see the face of God in those they encounter while doing their work, and we pray for policymakers, that they pour more resources into supporting our communities with food, health care, and education than they do in detaining people in facilities like Delaney Hall.

God, remind us that most of us are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants, and that we may be immigrants in the future. Help us to know that there are no borders in God’s kingdom, and that we reflect your love when we welcome everyone and treat them with care and kindness. Give us also the strength to stand up with courage and grace to power structures that fail to recognize the humanity in others.

Join us for the Cuba Faith Action Hour!
Monday, June 15 at 5:00 PM ET.

As the Trump administration threatens military action against Cuba and the U.S. embargo continues to deepen hardship across the island, people of faith have an important opportunity to learn, act, and advocate.

Hear how current U.S. policy is affecting churches, hospitals, schools, and ordinary Cuban families. Learn about the humanitarian and political situation in Cuba, get a brief advocacy training, and take action by contacting your Senators and Representatives in support of the Cuba War Powers Resolutions and the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act.

We'll provide a simple call script and everything you need to participate.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sRTgLxNoQmmq0QGN-ZwCDQ

The Catholic Church has many teachings that pertain to immigration, but all of them are rooted in a commitment to the dignity of the person as articulated across scripture, tradition, and magisterial teaching. The church teaches that every person’s fundamental rights are not contingent on any law, but are based on their nature as children of God, created in God’s image.

Link in the comments.

Jesus taught us to love one another.

"Because all people are of sacred worth, we support equal rights, liberties, and protections for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity." -United Methodist Social Principles