Chicago Cardinal Calls for Reform

March 22, 2009

Cardinal Francis George on Saturday called on the Obama administration to end Immigration raids across the country and pushed for passage this year of “comprehensive Immigration reform” that is “fair and compassionate.”

“Such reform would be a clear sign this administration is truly about change,” George said before several hundred people inside Our Lady of Mercy Church in Albany Park.

The prayer forum, organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago and several religious and immigrant rights groups, took place amid a renewed national push for federal Immigration reforms.

Last week, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus met with President Barack Obama and left hopeful Obama would tackle the issue this year. But the president did not say he would order a moratorium on enforcement measures that have separated thousands of families in recent years, according to U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who attended the Obama meeting and the Saturday prayer forum.

With concerns over the economy taking precedence in Washington, efforts to re-ignite the contentious debate over Immigration reform in Congress have been met with resistance.

George sought to cast the issue in moral terms, calling it “a matter of conscience” and an important step to creating a more peaceful society.

“We cannot strengthen families when people live in fear from day to day,” he said.

“May this be the year raids and separation of families stop,” George said. “May this be the year our legislators pass comprehensive Immigration reform.”