Bishop proposes 'canonical penalties' over Trump immigration plan

Trump's immigration policy was denounced at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
EPA
Lucia Binding14 June 2018

Catholics who help carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration policy of separating families who cross the US border illegally should be penalised, a bishop has said.

Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Arizona made the suggestion while addressing the spring meeting of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on Wednesday.

He said: “Canonical penalties are there in place to heal,” according to Religion News Service.

“And therefore, for the salvation of these people’s souls, maybe it’s time for us to look at canonical penalties.”

A canonical penalty is a censure or punishment of a priest or cleric where they are deprived – entirely or partially – of the use of the power of orders, office or benefice.

The denouncement of the Trump immigration policy was introduced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

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Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the USCCB, said in a statement at the event: “Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma.

“Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together.

“Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral,” he continued.

Several bishops recommended bold strategies for countering the policies, including two from states along the US-Mexico border, in the question-and-answer session.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, NJ, proposed that a group of bishops be sent to the border to inspect the detention facilities where children are kept.

He said it would be a “sign of our pastoral concern and protest against the hardening of the American heart.”

Bishop of Oscar Cantu of Cruses, NM, also suggested “public gestures” such as prayer vigils in front of federal courthouses.

Trump’s immigration policy was a signature issue of his presidential campaign and has generated huge publicity.

As part of his “Put America First” strategy, he released an immigration plan in January which offered a 12-year path to citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants who arrived in the US illegally as children.

In September 2017, Trump issued restrictions on travel from eight countries including North Korea and Syria.

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