Social

Thought
IMMIGRATION AND THE FAMILY
Accompaniment to Integration:
Immigration Legal Services through a Faith Lens
"
Maura Moser
Welcoming the Stranger:
Best Practice Considerations in Refugee Resettlement
"
Anita Wallen
The Path to Comprehensive Immigration Reform:
Stay the Course
"
J. Kevin Appleby
Gaudium et Spes and the Praxis of Charity:
Interpreting the Signs of the Times, Accompanying Families
"
Patrick Brown, Brian Corbin, Cynthia Dobrzynski

Volume 1, Number 1 (Spring 2015)

Catholic Charities USA

Editors Note

Social Thought

t is my great pleasure and privilege to welcome you to the re-launch of Social

Thought, Catholic Charities USAs interdisciplinary journal looking at issues of
social welfare, family strengthening, and supporting human dignity for all of our
brothers and sisters.

is a publication of

2050 Ballenger Avenue

Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
Sr. Donna Markham, OP, PhD
President-Elect
Brian R. Corbin
Executive Editor
Patrick Brown
Managing Editor

With a rich inheritance of being on the forefront of Catholic social thought and a commitment to being
an advocate for the poor, Catholic Charities USAs Social Thought is an online academic journal with
a mission of being a forum of discussion on bringing about systemic change in the way our nation
addresses poverty.
This interdisciplinary journal provides a forum for people of good will to examine contemporary issues
through the lenses of our Catholic social and moral tradition, public policy, and social practice. As in its
previous incarnation, Social Thought offers a scholarly perspective on issues in social welfare with
particular attention to the development of a society in which the principles of justice and charity and
incorporated.
The next issue of Social Thought will focus on the topic of: Food Insecurity and Families in Need
If you are interested in contributing to the discussion in Social Thought, send your submission to
Patrick Brown, Managing Editor, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org. Submissions should be
between 1,500-3,000 words, preferably in APA format, and sent in as a Word document.

I say re-launch as this is not a new endeavor for Catholic Charities USA - in the
1970s and 1980s, this organization partnered with the School of Social Work at
Catholic University of America to produce Social Thought, a peer-reviewed academic
journal on issues of social work practice. When economic realities made it
impractical to continue the peer-review process and printing on a large scale, the
original version of Social Thought went into dormition.
Decades later, it became apparent that its absence from our network meant that
there was no longer a formal place for Catholic Charities to tangle, in an scholarly
way, with the contemporary issues that face our agencies and those we serve. It is
my hope that this re-launch of Social Thought will prove to be a vibrant and rich
forum to explore the intersection of the unique space in which Catholic Charities
operates: the meeting of social work practice and public policy analysis in the light of
our Catholic moral and social tradition.
With this year of tremendous focus on the family - and our Holy Fathers upcoming
visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families - I thought it only appropriate to
spend our inaugural year of re-launching Social Thought focused on the family in its
different aspects. This quarters issue looks at immigration and the impact our
nations broken immigration system has on families, from programmatic, political, and
theologically-informed perspectives.
I hope you come away from this journal informed and inspired to engage in the
conversation. I look forward to continuing the discussion.
Brian R. Corbin
Executive Editor

Social Thought provides a forum for scholarly treatment of social welfare and related subjects.
Publication does not imply endorsement of an authors views.

Social Thought Spring 2015 (2)

Accompaniment to
Integration: Immigration
Legal Services through a
Faith Lens
Maura Moser
Protecting families requires addressing the threats that
often tear them apart. Families who come to our nation
as immigrants or refugees should be welcomed with
respect and dignity, and legal assistance to face these
barriers is an essential component of this care.
As brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot turn our
back on the newcomers in our midst. Accompanying
immigrants is not just an act of charity, but is a natural
and necessary consequence of our faith when we see
the presence of God in the lives of those in need.

In Gaudium et Spes, the Vatican II bishops made clear that the Church has always
had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light
of the Gospel. (Gaudium et Spes, 4). One of these contemporary signs is,
undoubtedly, the reality of global migration. The historic joint pastoral letter from the
bishops of the United States and Mexico, Strangers No Longer: Together on the
Journey of Hope, begins:
In discerning the signs of the times, we note the greatly increased migration
among the peoples of the Americas, and we see in this but one manifestation
of a worldwide phenomenon often called globalization which brings with it
great promises along with multiple challenges. (U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, Inc. & Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano, 2003, para. 1)
That was over ten years ago. Since then, global migration has only grown, and
following Pope Francis example of speaking out against the globalization of
indifference, we are called to assist immigrants in the United States (Vatican Radio,
2013). Legal immigration assistance reduces poverty, fosters integration, affects
child outcomes, and keeps families intact.
In the past year, we have seen unprecedented refugee flows from Central America
as tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors and families have arrived fleeing
violence and instability. In the past five years, more than two million people have
been deported from the United States, often separating families (Gonzales-Barrera &
Krogstad, 2014). Unacceptable wait times for legal family reunification persist, so
much so that for example, a Filipino whose U.S. citizen brother or sister filed an
application on his behalf in 1990 is only today receiving his visa.
With little political will in Congress for a comprehensive solution that will respond to
all of these problems, the Obama administration has taken steps to offer immigration
relief to nearly five million people with longstanding ties to this country. While not a
long-term solution, these new policies will offer much-needed relief for millions of
people and will allow them to contribute more effectively to the betterment of their
families, local communities, and the nation.
Immigration status represents a key step in the path to full membership in society in
the United States. It allows individuals to seek legal reunification with family

members, reduces poverty, reduces their vulnerability to deportation, improves their

employment prospects, and puts them on a track to citizenship. If the Obama
administrations executive orders are put into effect, an unprecedented number of
undocumented immigrants with longstanding ties to this country will soon have
access to temporary immigration status for the first time in the history of the United
States. Another six million people, however, have no option to remedy their status,
leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, and their families vulnerable to
separation.
Undocumented immigrants are often members of mixed status families in which the
legal status of family members varies. Some members of the family may be US
citizens, while others may hold lawful permanent residency, temporary status, or no
immigration status at all. An estimated ten percent of U.S. families include at least
one citizen child and one undocumented parent. Most children of undocumented
immigrants are U.S. citizens by birth (Passel & Cohn, 2009).
Recent studies have shown that the disparity between the immigration status of
children and their parents can have devastating consequences for their families. Due
to their parents vulnerability to deportation and separation, children of
undocumented immigrants suffer from greater symptoms of post-traumatic stress
disorder, lower use of health care, and increased poverty than the children of
documented immigrants. When a parent is deported, poorer child educational
outcomes and behavioral problems, such as aggression, anxiety, and withdrawal are
expected. In addition, the familys median income drops, reducing access to food
and placing them at risk for poverty (Satinsky, Hu, Heller, & Farhang, 2013).
Obtaining legal status not only positively impacts the individual, but also their
families, communities, and the nation.
Access to legal assistance is critical to supporting and strengthening familial ties,
protecting the most vulnerable, and reducing poverty among immigrants in the
United States. Legal representation makes an undeniably significant difference in the
outcome of cases, especially in the cases of those most vulnerable particularly
unaccompanied children. A recent investigation of a decades worth of court records
found that whether or not an unaccompanied child had an attorney was the single
most important factor influencing the case's outcome. The difference legal
representation makes is staggering: 73 percent of children with a lawyer were

allowed to remain in the United States, often with family. In contrast, only 15 percent
of children without a lawyer were allowed to remain. Yet, only 41 percent of
unaccompanied children had legal representation (TRAC Immigration, 2014). This
represents a significant deficiency in our legal system and a weakness in our
protection of the particularly vulnerable.
Statistics for adults compare similarly. Stanford University recently conducted a study
of detained immigrants facing deportation in northern California, most of whom had
families in the US. They found that those who had a lawyer were at least three times
more likely to prevail in their removal cases than those without (Northern California
Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, 2014). Another study in New York concurred
that one of the most important variables affecting the ability to secure a successful
outcome in a case was having representation. Immigrants in immigration detention
with no legal representation had a successful outcome in a mere three percent of
their cases (New York Immigrant Representation Study Steering Committee, 2012).
The legal immigration system presents tremendous
hurdles for immigrants to navigate alone. With the
Our long experience
consequences so high, it is imperative that
as a pilgrim people in a immigrants have access to quality legal assistance.

pilgrim church has

made Christians
intimately familiar with
uprooting, persecution, and living outside
the laws protection.

In Strangers No Longer, bishops of the United States

and Mexico insist that legal services are critical to the
defense of rights, and call for the expansion of these
services:

[An] important resource these communities can offer

migrants, especially those seeking asylum or family
reunification, is affordable or free legal assistance. A
special call is issued to lawyers in both our countries to assist individuals and
families in navigating the arduous immigration process and to defend the
human rights of migrants, especially those in detention. Parishes should work
together to provide adequate services throughout the community, making
every effort to invite parishioners with special expertise (lawyers, doctors,
social workers) to assist generously wherever they can. (U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, Inc. & Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano, 2003, para.
44)

With eligibility for deferred action being expanded for some immigrants at the same
time that deportation efforts are being enhanced, the need for the provision of legal
services for immigrants has never been greater.
The bishops call for legal assistance for migrants stems in part from a heartfelt
concern for the preservation of families. The importance of the family is a
fundamental tenet of Catholic social teaching, which posits that the family is the
central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined.
It is in this light that we must consider the impact of policies. In Economic Justice for
All, the bishops of the United States state that
Economic and social policies as well as the organization of the work world
should be continually evaluated in light of their impact on the strength and
stability of family life. The long-range future of this nation is intimately linked
with the well-being of families, for the family is the most basic form of human
community. (National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1986, para. 93d)
As a people of faith, we are called to challenge all forces that threaten the ties
between family members, such as the frequent deportation of people with
longstanding and family ties to the United States.
Furthermore, the Churchs policy positions on immigration and commitment to
service to immigrants are predicated upon the churchs intense identification with
migrants and refugees and the need to serve the most vulnerable. Catholic social
teaching calls us to love, act justly toward, and identify with persons on the margins
of society, including migrants and refugees.
Our long experience as a pilgrim people in a pilgrim church has made Christians
intimately familiar with uprooting, persecution, and living outside the laws protection.
In the Old Testament, the Jewish people were deported, exiled, enslaved, and
dispersed. From this experience, they learned to love and identify with migrants, not
oppress them. The Holy Family, which fled to Egypt, is the archetypal refugee family
(Apostolic Constitution of Pius XII, 1952). An itinerant minister himself, Jesus teaches
that the criterion for the final judgment will ultimately be how people treated the
dispossessed and needy, including the stranger (Matthew 25: 31-46). Migrants evoke
the Churchs own history, including the biblical exodus and exile, the itinerant ministry
of Jesus, and its 2,000-year missionary tradition.

Welcoming the stranger, regardless of immigration status, is a Gospel imperative. In

the encyclical Pacem in Terris, Pope Saint John XXIII stated,
Every human being has the right to freedom of movement and of residence
within the confines of his own state. When there are just reasons for it, he
must be permitted to emigrate to other countries and to take up residence
there. The fact that he is a citizen of a particular state does not deprive him of
membership to the human family, nor of citizenship in that universal society,
the common, world-wide fellowship of men. (1963, para. 25)
In effect, the church teaches that all people are "brothers and sisters" and that
immigration status does not change this fact. Likewise, it offers its Catholic Charities
programs, legal offices, community organizing grants, and refugee resettlement
services to all vulnerable migrants and newcomers, regardless of their religious
beliefs (Kerwin, 2006).
The work of the Church is guided by a faith which obligates us to protect and
promote the dignity of the human person. While there is much that needs to be
changed with our social and economic policies, we must work to promote the human
dignity of immigrant, defend their God-given rights, and keep their families intact.
Legal assistance is one critical facet of this work. It is not just an act of charity but it
is a consequence of our faith to serve humanity with heartfelt concern, a faith which
becomes active through love (Pope Benedict XVI, 2005, para. 31a).

Maura Moser is Director of Communications at the Catholic Legal Immigration

Network, INC. (CLINIC). She can be contacted at mmoser@cliniclegal.org

REFERENCES
Apostolic Constitution of Pius XII. (1952). Exsul familia nazarethana. Retrieved from
http://repository.berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/1952ExsulFamilia.pdf

Gonzales-Barrera, A. & Krogstad, J.M. (2014, October 2). U.S. deportations of

immigrants reach record high in 2013. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://
www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/02/u-s-deportations-of-immigrants-reachrecord-high-in-2013/
Kerwin, D., (2006). Immigration reform and the Catholic Church. Migration
Information Source. Retrieved from http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/
immigration-reform-and-catholic-church
National Conference of Catholic Bishops. (1986). Economic justice for all: Pastoral
letter on the Catholic social teaching and the U.S. economy. Washington, D.C.:
United States Catholic Conference.
New York Immigrant Representation Study Steering Committee. (2012). Accessing
justice II: A model for providing counsel to New York immigrants in removal
proceedings. Retrieved from http://www.cardozolawreview.com/content/denovo/
NYIRS_ReportII.pdf

Pope Saint John XXIII. (1963). Peace on Earth: Pacem in Terris. (N.C.W.C. Trans.).
Boston, MA: Daughters of St. Paul.
Satinsky, S., Hu, A., Heller, J., & Farhang, L. (2013). Family unity, family health: How
family-focused immigration reform will mean better health for children and families.
Retrieved from http://www.familyunityfamilyhealth.org/uploads/images/
FamilyUnityFamilyHealth.pdf
TRAC Immigration. (2014). New data on unaccompanied children in immigration
court. Retrieved from http://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/359/
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. & Conferencia del Episcopado
Mexicano. (2003). Strangers no longer: Together on the journey of hope.
Washington, D.C.: USCCB Publishing.
Vatican Radio (Producer). (2013, July 8). Pope on Lampedusa: The globalization of
indifference. [Transcript]. Retrieved from http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-onlampedusa-the-globalization-of-indifferenc

Northern California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice. (2014). Access to justice for
immigrant families and communities: Study of legal representation of detained
immigrants in northern California. Retrieved from https://media.law.stanford.edu/
organizations/clinics/immigrant-rights-clinic/11-4-14-Access-to-Justice-ReportFINAL.pdf
Passel, J.S., & Cohn, D. (2009). A portrait of unauthorized immigrants in the United
States. Retrieved from http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/reports/107.pdf
Pope Benedict XVI. (2005). Deus caritas est. Retrieved from http://w2.vatican.va/
content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deuscaritas-est.html
Pope Paul VI. Vatican II. (1965) Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern
World Gaudium et Spes. Retrieved from http://www.vatican.va/archive/
hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-etspes_en.html

Social Thought Spring 2015 (6)

Welcoming the Stranger:

Best Practice
Considerations in
Refugee Resettlement
Anita Wallen
Walking alongside families seeking refuge in our nation
requires a special understanding of the unique
challenges they face and strengths they bring.
Grounded in lived experience, this article offers best
practices in cultural adaptation and assimilation,
creating and supporting employment opportunities,
housing and safe neighborhoods, and education.
With careful planning, thoughtful deliberation and active
community engagement, resettlement agencies can
assist refugees to make positive contributions to and
have a lasting impact on American society.

We often think of the United States as a melting pot an amalgamation of many

races, a multitude of ethnicities, a rich blend of numerous languages and cultures.
Americans are proud that our nation is a refuge for people fleeing persecution. Our
country offers hope and new beginnings the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of our
nations promise, encourages the world to Give me your tired, your poor / Your
huddled masses yearning to breathe free (Lazarus, The New Colossus).
However, in recent years, immigration has become a highly debated issue, politically
and socially. How many immigrants should we admit? How can local communities
welcome and support newcomers? What are the economic impacts of immigration?
Do we have the social resources to adequately support immigration in its current
numbers? Behind these abstract debates on the immigration issue, lie the human
faces struggling with personal, practical and social problems: Lack of proficiency with
English, lack of job mobility and low paying jobs, undiagnosed health and mental
health conditions, and physical isolation and discrimination are just some of the
issues they face.
Each year, the U.S. State Department is allowed to resettle up to 70,000 refugees in
the United States. Given such volume, resettlement agencies are often ill-equipped
to address all the challenges refugees encounter in their totality due to limited
financial and human resources. Yet, the responsibility for ensuring a newly arriving
refugees immediate needs are met adequately rests squarely on these agencies.
It is imperative, therefore, for services to be well formulated and developed to elicit
the maximum community engagement. This article attempts to provide individuals
who work with refugees and unaccompanied minors some best practice
considerations that enhance service delivery.
Cultural Adaptation and Assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a complex process where refugees and immigrants are
expected to not only fully integrate themselves into a new country, but perhaps lose
some aspects of their own cultural heritage. Socioeconomic status and second
language acquisition strongly influence such assimilation. All refugees and
unaccompanied minors receive some form of domestic orientation through
resettlement agencies within a few days of their arrival. The orientation focuses on

helping refugees understand the services they can receive; their benefits, rights, and
responsibilities and our societys expectations regarding self sufficiency and
independence. Language barriers affect all aspects of a refugees life from access to
medical services, educational and employment opportunities, community interaction
and even simple daily tasks such as grocery shopping. While most refugees value
and understand the importance of English as Second Language (ESL) programs,
such programs may not always be easily accessible, especially if the adults in the
family have to juggle long work hours and other daily demands on their time.
Cultural Adaptation and Assimilation Best Practices
Use ESL as a window to more learning opportunities. ESL classes can teach
more than just English. It can teach banking, money management, civic laws
etc. Having speakers from the community such as police officers and health
practitioners present at ESL classes also promotes engagement between the
community and the refugee while delivering useful information.
Provide more than one initial orientation. Refugees are so overwhelmed with the
amount of information thrown at them in the first few days of arrival that some of
the information is lost. Follow up orientations can be helpful to the refugee in
obtaining secondary acculturation skills such as using public transportation,
home management, building good credit and so on.
Focus on experiential learning. Allow an opportunity to practice skills, whether it
be practicing spoken English, or purchasing a bus ticket or picking out produce
at a grocery store.
Involve other refugees who have been resettled in the past and are now self
sufficient to help in your efforts. Often, they can help connect new arrivals to the
various community resources and act as mentors. This has shown to be
particularly true with refugees who have a strong shared sense of oneness
because of their refugee camp experiences such as the Nepali speaking
Bhutanese.
Ensure adequate representation of refugees and immigrants on any community
task force or dialogue group your organization is a part of. We are not the
experts on refugee experiences. Refugees are.

Offer ESL classes where people can easily access them. If a company employs
many refugees, explore the possibility of offering ESL on the premises. Or at an
apartment complex where a number of refugees live.
Employment Opportunities
Insufficient language skills limit opportunities for job advancement. While most
refugees are willing to accept any job they can find when they arrive here, the real
problem is finding better paying jobs after they have been in the country a while.
Even low-paying jobs are now demanding higher skills, especially where the job
market is tight and highly competitive. Refugees with advanced degrees from their
countries are often not recognized in their respective fields due to their lack of the
American experience. Those with engineering degrees are cab drivers; doctors work
as security guards; professors are assembly line workers at a meatpacking plant.
Refugees are typically associated with taking jobs that Americans dont want.
Additionally, refugees may be paid lower wages than an American in the same job.
Employment Opportunities Best Practices
Create and maintain connections with large employers in the area. Having a
personal relationship with employers helps agencies promote the skills of
refugees they are trying to place and fosters ongoing dialogue on the
contributions refugees can make in spite of their perceived handicaps.
Find apprenticeship opportunities. Some state-run programs offer registered
apprenticeship and internship opportunities that provide training and on-site skill
development.
Look for resources to assist refugees in starting their own micro-enterprises.
Government or foundation grants may sometimes be available to help a group
of refugees start their own business such as a day care, bakery or a cleaning
company.
Provide job skills training beyond the typical resume writing. Teach practical
business skills that go beyond writing a resume or interviewing for a job.

 Inform refugees about their rights as an employee. Such information will help in
minimizing discrimination at the work place.
Advocate for refugees educational credentials to be recognized in the U.S.
Having an endorser standing behind them can make refugees more attractive
candidates in the job market.
Housing and Safe Neighborhoods
Finding appropriate and safe housing for refugees can be challenging. For a newly
arrived refugee family, the financial resources available to them are often insufficient
to obtain housing in neighborhoods that are safe and have access to good schools
and other social amenities. Resettlement agencies also struggle to find affordable
housing big enough to accommodate large refugee families due to regulations that
place a cap on how many people can reside in a single dwelling and apartment
restrictions that limit how many can share a bedroom. Lack of adequate public
transportation further compounds the issue. At times, refugees may not fully
understand the financial or legal implications of breaking a lease, damaging property
or not keeping up with other terms of a lease agreement.
Housing and Safe Neighborhoods Best Practices
Establish regular communication and coordination with various landlords and
property management companies in the area. Landlords are more likely to rent if
they receive some endorsement from the agency staff on the refugees seeking
housing.
Be on the lookout for not-for-profit property managers or immigrants and
refugees who own rental property. They are more likely to lease to another
refugee.

help refugees avoid eviction. Learning about credit, saving options, and
minimizing unnecessary expenditures can help refugees escape poverty and
homelessness. It can also equip refugees to move towards home ownership in a
shorter period of time.
Actively advocate in the community for safe, affordable housing for all. In many
cities, this is not an issue only refugees face; community and governmental
action is needed to promote safe housing for all.
Medical and Mental Health Needs
Language issues can challenge access to medical services. Refugees may not
understand medical correspondence or instructions such as childrens vaccination
records or comprehend how health insurance and managed care organizations work.
Refugees are typically used to curative and not preventive care and therefore may
not seek regular health care. A lack of cultural sensitivity on part of the medical care
provider can also be an obstacle to seeking care. While many refugees suffer from
trauma and depression, they may not recognize the symptoms as such, and even if
they do, may not seek services due to cultural misconceptions. Additionally,
American understanding of refugees attitudes towards mental health can sometimes
act as an obstacle to a refugees participation in services.
Medical and Mental Health Needs Best Practices
Provide information to refugees on how the medical and mental health systems
operate in the U.S. Understanding the process, the norms and expectations can
help refugees encounter less of a barrier in accessing services.
Offer cultural sensitivity trainings to local medical and mental health providers.
Helping service providers understand the cultural backgrounds and attitudes of
refugees towards health care promotes participation and trust building.

Educate refugees on fair housing laws and practices. Information can help them
advocate for themselves and prevent discrimination and prejudice with equal
opportunity housing.

Include information on preventive health care and its importance during

orientation.

Teach good rental habits and help provide financial literacy resources. Knowing
what the lease says and understanding the implications of breaking a lease can

Promote and create opportunities for socialization and community integration.

Physical and psychological isolation often compounds the mental health issues

refugees may face. Recreational and social activities contribute towards

integration and healthy living.
Educational Opportunities for Children
Refugee children frequently face discrimination at school. They often feel like they do
not belong, and language barriers and academic struggles only add to the problem.
Refugee children become more proficient than their parents in speaking English and
frequently act as interpreters. Parents may find themselves struggling to help their
children with school work. They may also find it hard to communicate and interact
with the school systems.
Educational Opportunities Best Practices
Provide outreach to refugee parents to encourage school participation and
communication. Encourage school officials to involve the parents in spite of any
language challenges or perceived disinterest in the childs education.
Explore after school tutoring and educational opportunities for children. Being
engaged in such a manner addresses their academic performance while also
providing them supervision and socialization when the adults are at work.
Americas identity as a melting pot is what makes our nation so richly blessed.
Across the years, different ethnic and cultural groups have brought their talents and
experiences to strengthen and enrich our nation, and these differences are what
makes America culturally and economically vibrant. From agriculture to science, arts
to politics, business to sports, refugees and immigrants add value to America and
shape its future.
With careful planning, thoughtful deliberation and active engagement with the larger
community, resettlement agencies can assist refugees tremendously in making
positive contributions to and an impact on American society.
Anita Wallen is the Chief Operating Office for Commonwealth Catholic Charities,
Richmond, Va.

Social Thought Spring 2015 (10)

The Path to
Comprehensive
Immigration Reform: Stay
the Course
J. Kevin Appleby
Two years ago, a comprehensive immigration reform
package had just passed the Senate, and an overhaul
of our nations broken immigration system seemed very
possible, even likely. What happened?
This article looks at the political realities and challenges
facing comprehensive immigration reform at the federal
level and provides actionable steps for the Catholic
community to prepare and advocate for reform for a
permanent solution to a broken system. Now is not the
time to despair, but to lay the groundwork for future
legislative battles.

No one said getting comprehensive immigration reform legislation enacted into law
would be easy, but no one said it would be this hard, either. Nearly two years ago,
things were looking up, with the U.S. Senate having passed S. 744, immigration
reform legislation (including a path to citizenship for the undocumented), by a vote of
68-32. With such a strong victory in the U.S. Senate, it looked likely that the House
of Representatives would follow suit by passing the Senate bill or one of its own.
But something not-so-funny happened on the way to the Presidents desk. The
House leadership was unable to bring the Senate billor any other bill, for that
matterto the House floor because of dissension within its ranks. Up to 50
Republicans would not vote for anything approaching the Senate legislation, while
others wanted a series of House bills considered separately.
As a result, the House leadership invoked the mythical Hastert rule, which required
that a majority of the majorityapproximately 115 Republican voteswould be
needed before any bills would be brought to the House floor. Despite reports that the
leadership, led by Representatives Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Mario Diaz-Balart (RFla.), had secured as many as 140 Republican votes, the bills never saw the light of
day.
Why did this happen? Political pundits would point to the primary election loss of
House Majority Eric Cantor in June of last year as pivotal, while others claim that the
spike in the number of unaccompanied children crossing the border last summer
killed any momentum toward a bill. Add to this the House leaderships unwillingness
to pass a bill with a majority of Democratic votes, and it meant death for
comprehensive immigration reform in 2014 and, seemingly, for the foreseeable
future.
The lesson from the loss is that supporters of immigration reform still have a lot of
work to do to produce the political power needed to get a good immigration bill
across the finish line. Such outside factors as one officials primary election would
not have such influence if support for comprehensive immigration reform was
strongeror at least if those who support its passage were more active and louder.
Positive poll results in support of reform do not guarantee victory in Congress; oldfashioned constituent pressure does.

10

Despite the setback, comprehensive immigration reform may be delayed, but it is far
from dead. Now is not the time for supporters to despair, but to reassess strategies
and reorganize the field, so that when the next opportunity arises, a White House
signing ceremony happens at the end of the process.
Policy Challenges
Political power often translates into negotiating power in the halls of Congress, while
the lack of it contributes to the erosion of policy positions and into less than perfect
results. Because of their inability to generate enough grass roots supportand the
oppositions own pushimmigration reform supporters again saw their negotiating
position weaken and policy positions erode.
The primary example was the construction of the path to citizenship in the Senate
bill. It contained a 13-year path, along with certain benchmarks participants were
required to meet along the way, including ongoing employment. It also contained a
cut-off dateDecember 31, 2011that would have disqualified almost one million
persons from obtaining legal status. Applicants also would have been required to pay
fees, a fine, and back taxes in order to maintain their eligibility, likely eliminating
others from applying.
Moreover, the prevalent position that developed among House Republicans was that
there could not be a special path to citizenship for the undocumented. They would
have to go through the existing channelsprimarily family or employment
sponsorshipto obtain citizenship. Of course, proponents of a path to citizenship,
including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), argued that long
backlogs and caps in these categories could effectively keep millions in a permanent
underclass status, at least for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, this position
began to get traction as a compromise position.
Another threat that emerged, as it did during the 2007 debate, was to the familybased immigration system. For example, the Senate bill eliminated the 3rd and 4th
preferences in the family-based systemabout 100,000 visas for adult children and
siblings of legal permanent residents (LPRs)and transferred them to the
employment-based system. It reflected a shift away from the definition of family for
immigration purposes from extended family to those in the nuclear familyspouses
and minor children.

Finally, the issue of immigration enforcement continued to make passage of a

humane immigration reform bill challenging. Opponents of reformor more
specifically, any sort of amnestyeffectively use enforcement as a method to delay
or deny the legalization and eventual citizenship of the undocumented population.
Their most prominent argument is that the border must be secure before any other
parts of the system can be reformed, including the legal immigration system and a
path to citizenship.
This issue arose during the Senate floor debate when, knowing that they may not
have sufficient votes to pass S. 744, the Senate adopted an amendment by Senator
Bob Corker (R-TN) on border enforcement. The amendment required that 9 out of 10
border crossers needed to be apprehended in high
traffic areas within five years, deployed billions in
Catholic Charities
technology and manpower to achieve it, and tied
agencies are on the
implementation of the legalization program to its
front lines in assisting
success.

immigrant communities
across the nation, and
should remain so.
The Church must serve
her mission and remain
a stalwart in welcoming
the stranger.

Because of the Corker amendment, the reduction in

family-based visas, and the overly long and arduous
path to citizenship, USCCB did not endorse S. 744
in its entirety, but supported its passage so that it
could be fixed later in the legislative process. The
weakness in these areas, however, demonstrates
the policy challenges facing advocates during the
next legislative battle. With more political power, the
church and other supporters of reform would more
easily be able to negotiate these areas and obtain a better deal for immigrants and
their families.
Impact of Executive Action
With comprehensive immigration reform legislation dead for the foreseeable future,
the Obama administration announced an executive action on immigration on
November 20, 2014. Among other things, the White House announced the
expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the
creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Legal Permanent

11

resident (DAPA) program. Combined, the two programs provide legal status and
work permits to about 4.5 million people.
The USCCB supported the Administration action on humanitarian grounds, so that
immigrant families could remain together and not continue to be subject to record
deportations. In response to critics of the action, USCCB and others have argued
that Congress should do their jobs and pass comprehensive immigration reform
legislation that supersedes and improves upon it.
What has been the political and human impact of the executive action? Politically, it
has made it more difficult to pass immigration reform in the 114th Congress, as many
elected officials have used it as an example of Administration overreach rather than
as motivation to pass a bill. It is doubtful, in any case, that a bipartisan immigration
bill would be possible this year, regardless of the Administration action. Regardless,
the Catholic community and others must continue to push for comprehensive
immigration reform legislation as the permanent solution to a broken system. This
message must not be lost amidst the debate over the constitutionality of the
executive action.
On a human level, the executive action should reduce the record number of
deportations by the Administration and keep families together, an important goal of
any immigration system. In a September 9, 2014, letter to DHS Secretary Jeh
Johnson, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo of Seattle, chairman of the USCCB Committee on
Migration wrote the following:
One of the tragedies of the deportations has been the separation of parents
from their [U.S.-citizen] children. With immigration reform legislation stalled in
Congress, our nation can no longer wait to end the suffering of family
separation caused by our broken immigration system.
Another benefit of the executive action is that it will activate the Catholic network
including Catholic Charities agencies and other social services providers to reach
out to the immigrant community and prepare them to apply for the new programs.
This will be somewhat of a trial run, if you will, for the implementation of future
immigration reform legislation. It would help build trust between implementing
agencies and the immigrant community, helping to ensure that undocumented
immigrants access needed legal assistance.

Finally, the executive action, if successfully implemented, would build morale in the
immigrant community, as it would show that with patience and continued advocacy,
good things can happen. Given the past setbacks, it is important to point to a victory
that brings relief to millions of persons.
Moving forward: Preparing for the Next Round
It is important that advocates, including the Catholic community, stay the course and
continue working on behalf of immigration reform legislation. The issue is not going
awayin fact, it should be a top issue in the 2016 election and beyond. Now is not
the time to despair, but to lay the groundwork for the next legislative battle.
What does the Catholic community need to do?
First, the USCCB and other Catholic agencies, such as Catholic Charities USA,
should work harder to build support for immigration reform among Catholics
nationwide. While polls show that the majority of Catholics support comprehensive
immigration reform, this support has not translated into political action, defined as
constituent pressure on their elected officials. Recruiting other Catholic groups, such
as the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Malta, to join the fight is vital to this
goal. With Pope Francis making migration a primary issue of his papacy, it is a good
time to reach out to Catholics nationwide on the issue.
Second, the Church should hone its message on immigration, especially when it
comes to enforcement issues and the rule of law. Some Catholics believe talk radio
and opponents who say that the Church supports open bordersbut it is not true.
Catholic social teaching acknowledges the right of a sovereign to ensure the integrity
of its borders, provided it is done in a humane way. The Church does not oppose the
enforcement of the law, as long as it reflects American valuesthe provision of due
process and protection of those fleeing persecution. Many proposed enforcement
policies fail to meet this test.
Moreover, the current system is based on illegality and is chaotic. The USCCB
supports immigration reform so that order, based on legality, can be reintroduced into
the system. It would reset the enforcement rules and ensure that all actors
including business and law enforcementare playing by them.

12

Finally, the Church should continue to work with and assist the immigrant community,
both pastorally and with social-service assistance. As mentioned, the implementation
of the executive action should help in this regard. Not only does this build trust and
relationships, it helps ensure that immigrants know they have a place to go for help
when their loved ones are facing deportation or lengthy detention. It also places
Catholic agencies in a good position when immigration reform is finally passed.
Catholic Charities agencies are on the front lines in assisting immigrant communities
across the nation, and should remain so. The Church must serve her mission and
remain a stalwart in welcoming the stranger.
In the end, the passage of comprehensive immigration reform is not an if it will
happen, but when. By continuing to work toward this goal, the Church can ensure
that it happens sooner rather than later, and that the bill that is ultimately passed is
one that is worthy of support.
J. Kevin Appleby is the Director of the Office of Migration Policy and Public Affairs at
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services
Offices.

13

Social Thought Spring 2015 (14)

Gaudium et Spes and the

Praxis of Charity: Interpreting
the Signs of the Times,
Accompanying Families
Patrick Brown, Brian Corbin, Cynthia Dobrzynski
Throughout its history, Catholic Charities has
interpreted the signs of the times in responding
proactively to the needs of families and individuals, and
in todays complex world, these efforts must include a
focus on the systemic barriers preventing families from
achieving economic and social stability.
In this paper, we offer a brief history of our movement
and show that advocacy for charity and justice is at the
core of our identity. We call for a holistic approach,
focused on individual needs of each clients, encourage
the Church to heighten its efforts to be a prophetic
witness to more comprehensively and effectively
addressing the griefs and anxieties of those in need.

The joys and the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men [sic] of this age,
especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes,
the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. So begins Gaudium et Spes,
laying out the challenge to be taken up by those who would follow Christ; when one
member of our human family suffers, the whole body suffers.
In the international development sphere, the material deprivations and abject poverty
provide a vivid picture of what it means to be hungry, thirsty, naked, or without
shelter. Catholic Relief Services is on the front lines of responding to the needs of
those in developing nations. But here at home, in this land of plenty, far too many of
our neighbors go to sleep on an empty stomach, without means of supporting
themselves or their families, abandoned and alone, or otherwise unable to pursue
their full God-given potential.
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), as the national representative of the Churchs
social services agencies accompanying the poor in communities across America,
has a special call to understand and address the systemic barriers that prevent our
nation and society from building a social order that is more just. Throughout our
history, we have engaged people of good will to respond to the poverty that is as if
Christ Himself were crying out in these poor. In communities across America, local
Catholic Charities agencies and programs continue this work, accompanying families
and individuals in need. But in order to live out our dual mission of charity and
justice, we must also address the root causes that are keeping so many families
trapped in poverty.
The challenges of today are different than those facing the church and the world 50
years ago, and require a new approach and fresh enthusiasm. We must continue to
read the signs of the times and devise forms of assistance and accompaniment that
fit these new needs and realities. Led by the example of Pope Francis, challenged by
the legacy of a War on Poverty launched over 50 years ago, driven by the
unacceptable reality of 45 million Americans in need, and inspired by the lifechanging work our agencies are accomplishing every day, CCUSA wants to be
involved in new conversations about meeting the needs of families and individuals.
In this time of tremendous focus on the needs of the family, and responding to the
remarkable changes in social structures that have dramatically altered what families

14

look like and are in need of, our society needs to re-commit to supporting the family,
what Gaudium et Spes calls the school of humanity. Based on the local realities
witnessed by Catholic Charities agencies every day, and grounded in rigorous social
science, the Churchs unique and vital voice can encourage society to address more
comprehensively and effectively the griefs and anxieties of those in need. To build a
society that is more just and charitable, we must constantly analyze the micro- and
macro-level problems in our own culture, and address the unique challenges facing
families in our own country and in our own time. In this work, we suggest three policy
principles and five lenses of understanding and approaching meaningful and longlasting reform of our anti-poverty system.

majority of delinquent youth in American cities. It is a melancholy fact, and a very

humiliating avowal for us to make, that a very large portion of the vicious and idle
youth of our principle cities are the children of Catholic parents.

A Legacy of Scrutinizing the Signs of the Times

As Catholics became part of the American mainstream, the work of Catholic social
services agencies expanded to include all suffering from exclusion, disability, or
economic or social deprivation, regardless of race, creed, or social background.
Understanding the need to address the causes of poverty, in addition to its effects,
the NCCC played a significant role in the shaping of social welfare legislation such
as the National Housing Act of 1934 and 1935s Social Security Act, specifically in
the development of Aid to Dependent Children and Child Welfare Services.

In addition to representing our member agencies on the national level, Catholic

Charities USA has a long history of engaging with elected officials, researchers,
political leaders, and all those of good will to build a stronger society that fully
acknowledges and supports the inherent dignity of all, especially those on the
margins of society. The organizations vision statement provides an apt summary of
this legacy of service and advocacy:
Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of
human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus
given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals,
families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their
issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.
Throughout our history, Catholic Charities in the United States have lived out our
identity of being the hands of the Church ministering to the wounds of Christ
personified in the lives of the poor and marginalized. Starting in 1727, with French
Ursuline Sisters in what is now the Ninth Ward of New Orleans offering shelter to
widows and orphaned children, Catholic social services have been woven into the
fabric of our country.
The vast majority of those receiving services from Catholic charitable organizations
in the early years of our nation were themselves Catholic. In 1866, the bishops of the
United States noted the large number of Catholics imprisoned and destitute in a
pastoral letter, specifically referencing the Irish newcomers which made up the

In 1910, the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC) was founded on the
campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to provide a
national forum for discussion, social work best practices, and addressing the
systemic causes of poverty and destitution in the United States. At that Charter
meeting, Catholic Charities declared itself to be the attorney for the poor. This
aspiration and insight leads our work today.

In 1969, inspired in part by the summons of Gaudium et Spes to live out the Churchs
duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times [and] interpreting them in the light of the
Gospel, the NCCC launched a process of reflection on the work and ministry of
Catholic Charities, culminating in Toward A Renewed Catholic Charities Movement,
a document that would become known as the Cadre Study. The document reoriented
the mission of the national Catholic Charities network to prominently take up the
roles of social action, legislative advocacy, and convening.
The Cadre Study focused on the mandate for renewal of various institutions in the
church and the challenges being made to nearly all institutions in society. The
document reflected upon the fact that not only were society and the Church
changing, but also that the very structure and fabric of social work practices and
agencies was the subject of massive demands for a new orientation toward action
and away from direct service.9 From then on, the Catholic Charities movement has
strived towards living out its mission statement in every aspect of its responsibilities
and actions: to provide services to people in need, to advocate for justice in social
structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the
same.

15

One key element to the second concept of advocacy focuses on our ability as a
movement and as a Church to not only advocate for justice in social structures, but
to actually work to transform and humanize them. This element grew in tandem
with the work of the U.S. Catholic Bishops anti-poverty program, The Catholic
Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) which engaged the Church with many
local Catholic Charities agencies on the forefront in community organizing and
community economic development.
Beginning in 1993, the Vision 2000 Task Force began its work of redefining and
developing a strategic plan that would allow the organization, now called Catholic
Charities USA, to face the challenges of the new century. The Vision 2000 document
called upon the church and others to continue to read the signs of the times and
engage in charitable and social justice action.
Taken as a whole, the Catholic Charities network has a long history of not only
serving those in need, but engaging in discussion, thought, and action to make our
nation a more just and compassionate society. Our history shows a commitment to
responding to the needs of families and society in our own country and in our own
time, and adjusting our approach and efforts to address contemporary challenges.
We are committed to accompanying those in need on their path out of poverty, and to
using their stories and insights to work with government leaders and other sectors to
build a more compassionate response. Addressing the challenges of today through
the lens of social work, policy analysis, and our Catholic identity isnt a new
responsibility for Catholic Charities; it is central, and essential, to our work.
The Familyis the Foundation of Society
We have seen that Catholic Charities USAs history and legacy compels us to
address the systemic roots of the problem of poverty that leaves 45 million
Americans at or below the federal poverty line. In these efforts, we must start with the
fundamental building-block of society the family.
Gaudium et Spes aptly summarizes why supporting the family must be at the center
of our work to reduce poverty: The family, in which the various generations come
together and help one another grow wiser and harmonize personal rights with the
other requirements of social life, is the foundation of society. Through a gift of
mutual self-bestowal, parents become living examples of Christs love for each

other and for their children. In family life, children are introduced the values of
patience, kindness, self-sacrifice, humility, faith, hope, and charity; families provide
parents the opportunity to raise new citizens and children of God. Marriage and the
family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not
undermined. Therefore, our work to reduce poverty must have at its center the
importance of supporting the family, especially ones in need.
The challenges facing families have never been so diverse and pervasive. For many,
the lack of stable employment means that economically providing for a stable family
life remains out of reach. The fraying of the social contract means that the institutions
and bonds that families used to be able to rely on for support are increasingly leaving
them on their own. Changes in cultural and social norms mean that children are
more likely to grow up without the love and support of both biological parents and
children in low-income families, who need that support most of all, are
disproportionately impacted by the breakdown of strong family life. [...]
50 Years Later, How Best to Foster the Nobility of Marriage and the Family
But in order to break the cycle of poverty that grips so many in our nation, we need a
renewed commitment to address the deeper, macro-level causes that leave so many
families broken, left behind, or in need.
During the preparation of Gaudium et Spes, the Vatican II council was writing at a
time of profound and rapid changes. The advent of the sexual revolution, a
fracturing consensus on the importance of marriage and the family, and a global
struggle between capitalism and communism were the backdrop against which the
Councils work was being done. The challenges we face today as a Church and
social movement are different, but in many ways related to, or the result of, the
changes the Council was responding to in 1965.
Fifty years later, progress has been made on our journey towards a society built on
justice and compassion. Race relations and civil rights have vastly improved since
the mid-1960s, and we no longer live under the imminent threat of thermonuclear
war. The unique gifts of women are now more widely recognized, and technological
advancements have increased our ability to cure disease and build communities
even across geographical distances.

16

At the same time, the economic pressures and social changes have brought new
challenges to bear on families and individuals in need. The hollowing out of the
American middle class has been the result of many factors, including the decline in
manufacturing jobs, increased segregation along socio-economic lines, a widening
gap between the incomes of high earners and those in moderate-to-low income
households, and economic pressures that often force both parents into the workforce
just to make ends meet. Put simply, our globalized, fast-paced economy no longer
values the domestic sphere, and only those already blessed with the means to thrive
are reliably able to count on the support of a strong family unit. Marriage, according
to Lerman and Wilcox (2014), is increasingly an upper-class phenomenon.
Pope Paul VI told us Every attack on the fundamental value of the familyis an
attack on the true good of man. Respecting the human dignity of every one of our
brothers and sisters, regardless of background or situation, means committing to
reversing this trend.
In low-income and at-risk communities, in addition to falling rates of marriage and
increasing rates of children born outside of marriage, the problems are compounded
by skyrocketing incarceration rates, punitive welfare reform components, and
regressive implicit marginal tax rates which keep people trapped in poverty.
Researchers have found that the impact of this latest recession hit low- and middleincome families, particularly men, harder than previous recessions. There are many
systemic barriers that keep people and families from moving out of poverty at the
broadest level, Pope Francis has talked about a culture of exclusion that prevents
the poor and marginalized from being welcomed into the broader community.
These barriers range from the small-scale to the global. Conservative researchers
and policymakers have talked about regressive burdens like excessive licensure
laws that prevent low-income individuals from achieving an economic foothold with a
job that could lead to greater self-sufficiency. On the liberal side of the aisle,
observers have pinpointed a federal minimum wage that leaves many families on the
brink of economic disaster, and corporate policies and procedures that dehumanize
workers and contribute to instability.
Other barriers that contribute to an economy of exclusion, [or] throwaway culture
include lingering racial inequities 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act,
businesses like payday lenders and slumlords who make their living by preying on

low-income households, and more global threats, such as climate change, which
could most heavily impact those who dont have the resources to adjust to dramatic
changes.
Not all of these problems are solvable in the near-term in fact, many of them will be
the work of lifetimes. They are entrenched, interwoven, and require concerted effort
to reform. Nonetheless, to serve those in need without working for justice would be to
live out our mission with one hand tied behind our back. Gaudium et Spes echoes
this concern: The Church and the political community in their own fields are
autonomous and independent from each other. Yet the more that both foster
sounder cooperation between themselves with due consideration for the
circumstances of time and place, the more effective will their service be exercised for
the good of all.
Like Isaiah, we are charged with the responsibility to bring good news to the
afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, release to
the prisoners. Therefore, to truly address the systemic causes of poverty, as we
believe is a vital component of our role, we suggest the following three public policy
principles in understanding and addressing poverty in America.
Three Public Policy Principles: Holistic, Client-Focused, and Results-Driven
As part of CCUSAs centennial celebration, the organization held a number of
regional listening sessions or poverty summits to better understand and
synthesize the challenges facing low-income individuals and families. We also
compiled the latest strategies being pioneered by our member agencies to assist
them on their journey. The lessons learned were turned into a piece of legislation that
was introduced into Congress, but fell victim to partisan gridlock. However, these
three focus areas, based on the lived experience of our member agencies, remain
our guiding principles in advocating for a stronger response to the problem of poverty
in America and build opportunities for families to thrive. They are:
Holistic: The current system of fighting poverty was developed in an era of slide rules
and electric typewriters. While we have tinkered with the social safety net over the
last 51 years, our national approach is still largely dictated by bureaucrats in
Washington, D.C., removed from the daily realities facing families and communities.
Any meaningful reform should look at the system as a whole, break down

17

bureaucratic silos that hinder effectiveness, and support the formation of strong
families as the basic building-block of a healthy society.

Charities has adapted to meet families and individuals where they are and
accompany them on their journey.

Client-Focused: Truly ending poverty starts with recognizing the dignity inherent in
every person, and building from their strengths and assets. Utilizing a case
management approach, attacking the unique problems trapping each individual and
family in poverty, and stabilizing those in need before they are at-risk, as opposed to
after they have already fallen into poverty, requires leveraging federal, state, and
community resources in the manner that will be most effective, efficient, and targeted
in breaking through the barriers keeping people in poverty from achieving their
potential.

Saint Pope John Paul II wrote that the Church must be continually encouraging
authentic human dignity, the value of work, and standing in solidarity with those in
need The Church is firmly committed to this cause, for she considers it her
mission, her service, a proof of her fidelity to Christ, so that she can truly be the
Church of the poor.

Results-driven: In order to invest in what works, we need to know what in fact does
work. While the ministry of charity will continue for as long as the poor are with us,
effectively addressing the structural and personal challenges impacting families in
need requires rigorous, impartial analysis of our strategies and programs. Our
partnership with the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities at the
University of Notre Dame is testament to our belief in the importance of evaluation
and commitment to supporting measurement and using those results to not only
scale up existing programs, but work with policymakers to craft safety-net programs
based on examples that have been proven to work.
These three principles guide our work; they set forward an ideal direction but do not
prescribe us from engaging in discussions about different perspectives or
approaches. As Congress and state governments pursue reform of our social service
programs, we encourage them to keep in mind these policy principles, as well as the
four fundamental pillars of Catholic Social Doctrine: subsidarity, solidarity, respect for
the common good, and the essential dignity of the human person.
Joy and Hope for a World in Need
[...] Throughout its history, Catholic Charities in the United States have lived out this
call interpreting, as Gaudium et Spes calls us to do, the signs of the times to
respond in the manner most appropriate to the challenges of the present day.
Whether providing housing for the widowed and orphaned in 18th-century New
Orleans, ensuring immigrants in 19th-century New York didnt go hungry, or working
to assist those impacted by outsourcing in the 20th-century Rust Belt, Catholic

Now, faced with ever-more-complex and globalized challenges, the need to continue
walking along side those in need while working to address the deeper causes of
poverty and want has never been more important. The efforts of Catholic Charities,
and the Church, must now more include a focus on the systemic barriers preventing
families from achieving economic and social stability. Our mission of spreading
gaudium and spes to those in desperate need of joy and hope is not something that
is limited to the Catholic Charities network, but to the whole body of Christ; The spirit
of poverty and charity are the glory and witness of the Church of Christ.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor; can we do any less? The griefs and anxieties of
those in need are summoning us to action; as members of one human family, as
brothers and sisters in Christ, we must respond.
Patrick Brown is Manager of Communications and Notre Dame Partnership, Brian
Corbin is Sr. Vice President of Social Policy, and Cynthia Dobryznski is Sr. Vice
President of Mission and Ministry at Catholic Charities USA.
This full version of this paper was originally presented at the University of Notre
Dames Center for Social Concerns 2015 Catholic Social Tradition Conference: Joy
& Hope - 50th Anniversary of Gaudium et Spes
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