The dignity of the immigrant is the responsibility of the nation — diocesan presentation on immigration addresses social teaching and demonization of the migrant

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

The Diocese of Covington, in collaboration with the Intercommunity Sisters Peace and Justice Committee, held a presentation, June 25, titled “Immigration: The Catholic Perspective.”

The first of its kind in the diocese, the presentation addressed the issue of immigration as it pertains to the current climate and the Catholic faith. Speakers, which included Mother of God pastor Father Michael Comer, Thomas More University professors James Camp and Hannah Keegan, Divine Providence Sister Kay Kramer and Notre Dame Sister Maria Francine Stacy, addressed topics such as the Catholic social teaching on immigration and the reality at the US/Mexico border — as well as the religious sisters sharing stories of personal witness of 25-plus years working directly with immigrant populations.

Extremely well-attended, what was expected to be a crowd of 20-30, turned out to be near 200 participants filling Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium.

Hannah Keegan, who works at Thomas More University as the director of the Center of Faith, Mission and Catholic Education, highlighted the Catholic Church’s teaching on immigration. The Church teaches and encourages the right of the migrant to seek safety and asylum as much as the right of the nation to secure its borders — however, it is the responsibility of a country to treat all immigrants with respect and dignity.

“Pope Francis has also said this, whether you embrace them, welcoming them into your country or have to send them back to their country, it’s done affirming their dignity, and not demonizing them,” said Ms. Keegan, who pointed out the USCCB’s poignant stance on nativism. “Like it says on page three USCCB, the native does not have superior rights over the immigrant and that’s a different narrative than the one we’re hearing.”

Following Ms. Keegan’s presentation, Sister Maria Francine’s presentation put a face to immigration by sharing her personal witness with migrants she has met and served in her ministry — having ministered in the Boone County detention center, which holds detained immigrants. She presented names and faces — such as a father separated from his family, and a mother of a young child who lost her husband crossing the Darien Gap — stressing the importance of seeing the immigrant as a person and an individual, not just a number or statistic.