President Donald Trump recently faced a rare and public rebuke from the Catholic Church after Catholic Bishop Mark Brennan, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, released a lengthy public statement condemning the current U.S. immigration system. The statement, released on July 31, highlighted Brennan’s criticism of Trump’s mass deportation efforts and his praise for former President George W. Bush’s immigration policies as ‘acceptable.’ The bishop emphasized that the current immigration policies are ‘harsh’ and have led to the separation of families and the mistreatment of law-abiding individuals.
Brennan, who presides over the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which encompasses all of West Virginia, stated, ‘America was built on the backs of men and women who came from other countries, whether freely or in chains.’ He pointed out that the current government is adopting ‘harsh measures’ that often fail to distinguish between ‘true criminals’ and ‘law-abiding persons.’ Brennan further criticized the policies, noting that the government’s claim of wanting to ‘help families’ clashes with its willingness to ‘separate immigrant parents from their children.’ This policy, according to the bishop, also threatens the economy, as it ‘wants to expel millions of workers upon whom the economy depends.’
Navigating the political landscape, the bishop noted that some parishioners have expressed support for Trump over his promise of a secure border, which they believe is now ‘waning’ due to what they see as a ‘wholesale assault on the majority of immigrants.’ Brennan commented, ‘You expected a laser beam approach, not a floodlight.’ The bishop also drew a comparison to the biblical story of Matthew 2, where Mary and Joseph fled with infant Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod. Brennan emphasized that the Church looks at the ‘person, not his or her legal status,’ and that following Christ’s teaching, the Church reaches out to help immigrants, regardless of their legal status.
Brennan also highlighted that both political parties have failed to address immigration reform. He pointed out that Republican George W. Bush presented an ‘acceptable’ plan, but his own party shot it down. Similarly, Democratic President Barack Obama claimed to support immigration reform, yet his party in Congress hindered the process. Brennan expressed disappointment in the politicians who have not fulfilled the needs of the people. The White House responded to Brennan’s statement, calling it ‘rife with inaccuracies and misinformation,’ and arguing that the bishop is wrong to conflate ‘illegal immigrants’ with ‘legal immigrants.’ The statement also criticized Trump’s deportation policies, stating that the president is ‘keeping his promise to the American people’ by carrying out the ‘largest mass deportation operation in history.’ The White House emphasized the importance of upholding the law and empowering federal law enforcement to enforce it, claiming that the absence of laws would mean the disintegration of the nation itself.