Archbishop Aymond: No one can turn a deaf ear to the palpable cries of anxiety and fear

“You have in your hands a very great task, to accompany those who need a sign that God never abandons anyone—not the smallest, not the poorest, not the foreigner, not anyone.”  
-Pope Leo XIV
 
 
A Statement from Most Reverend Gregory Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans
 
No one can turn a deaf ear to the palpable cries of anxiety and fear heard throughout our communities in Louisiana in the wake of a surge in immigration enforcement actions. I implore all people of faith and goodwill to join me in prayer for our families and our community as we face these challenging times. As Pope Leo stated, we must keep order in our communities, but I ask on behalf of our immigrant families and communities that we work for real justice and a system that protects and preserves the dignity of the human person and families regardless of where they live or from where they come.
 
Nationally, the Catholic Church has launched the “You Are Not Alone initiative”. In union with my brother bishops we will begin working in our parishes to promote programs that focus on four key areas of service to our immigrant communities: emergency and family support, accompaniment and pastoral care, communication of Church teaching, and solidarity through prayer and public witness.
 
God is faithful. Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, pray for us.