WASHINGTON—On
January 27, 2017, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order that,
among other things: suspends issuance of visas and other immigration benefits to
nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days; indefinitely
suspends resettlement of refugees from Syria, which is also predominantly
Muslim, subject to a possible exception for those who are “religious minorities”
in their home countries and facing religious persecution; and suspends virtually
the entire U.S. refugee resettlement program for 120 days, also subject to a possible exception for such “religious
minorities.”

Most
Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Bishop of Springfield and Chairman of the USCCB
Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Most Reverend William E.
Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and Chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for
Religious Liberty, and Most Reverend Oscar Cantú, Bishop of Las Cruces and
Chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, jointly
issued the following statement in response to this action:

We
recognize that Friday evening’s Executive Order has generated fear and untold
anxiety among refugees, immigrants, and others throughout the faith community in
the United States. In response to the Order, we join with other faith leaders
to stand in solidarity again with those affected by this order, especially our
Muslim sisters and brothers. We also express our firm resolution that the
Order’s stated preference for “religious minorities” should be applied to
protect not only Christians where they are a minority, but all religious
minorities who suffer persecution, which includes Yazidis, Shia Muslims in
majority Sunni areas, and vice versa. While we also recognize that the United
States government has a duty to protect the security of its people, we must
nevertheless employ means that respect both religious liberty for all, and the
urgency of protecting the lives of those who desperately flee violence and
persecution. It is our conviction as followers of the Lord Jesus that welcoming
the stranger and protecting the vulnerable lie at the core of the Christian
life. And so, to our Muslim brothers and sisters and all people of faith, we
stand with you and welcome you.

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Keywords:
Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, Archbishop William E. Lori, Bishop Oscar Cantú.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Ad Hoc Committee on Religious
Liberty, Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Committee on
International Justice and Peace, Muslim community, executive order, refugee
resettlement, Syria, religious minorities, religious liberty.

Media
Contact:
Judy
Keane
202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops