Catholic Bishops on Family Unity and Immigration

The U.S. Catholic Bishops have been thinking about, praying over, and writing on immigration since the 1920s! Here we explore the fourth element of their publication titled Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform, published in January 2025.

Element 4: Family unity should remain a cornerstone of the U.S. system

“Catholic teaching maintains that families are the foundation of society, and the success of any civilization hinges on the well-being of its families.”

Immigration Reform should strive to keep families together. There are families in the U.S. composed of citizen and noncitizen members, documented and undocumented relatives.
“Immigration Reform measures should be evaluated according to whether they strengthen families and promote family unity.”
Government programs and services provided for U.S. citizens should not be denied to other members of mixed-status families, penalizing a U.S. citizen because the entire family is not comprised of U.S. citizens.

Have you ever moved so that your children can have a better education or more opportunities? Some undocumented parents of children born in the U.S. have difficult choices to make. How would you feel about leaving your child behind, so your child has the opportunities and privileges the U.S. provides its citizens? Would you be willing to be separated from your child so they can have that opportunity? What impact does the separation of children and parents have on society?

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity”

—Psalm 133:1 (NIV - New International Version)

Over the next weeks, please return to learn the remaining elements and ponder related questions.

Join us to gain a clearer understanding of how immigration, policy and human dignity intersect at Immigration: Facts, Fiction and Faith with Darryl Morin, National President of Forward Latino. St. Anthony on the Lake, Wednesday, February 4th, 6:30 - 8:30pm.