San Diego bishops were among those who backed the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ move to send a rare “special message” — the first in 12 years — to express their concern and opposition amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies.
Bishop Michael Pham of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, along with Auxiliary Bishops Felipe Pulido and Ramón Bejarano, were among the members who voted by an overwhelming majority in favor of sending a message during what they called a “crucial moment.”
“We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” reads part of the message sent by the body of bishops on Wednesday. “We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.
“We pray that the Lord may guide the leaders of our nation, and we are grateful for past and present opportunities to dialogue with public and elected officials,” the message continues. “In this dialogue, we will continue to advocate for meaningful immigration reform.”
Immediately after flying back from Baltimore, where the fall plenary assembly was held, the three bishops on Thursday joined multi-faith leaders for a candlelight vigil in front of the Edward J. Schwartz federal building in downtown San Diego. The building holds immigration courtrooms, a temporary detention facility and the offices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Multi-faith leaders gather for a candlelight vigil outside immigration court in downtown San Diego Thursday. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Hundreds attended the vigil to show solidarity with families of individuals who have been detained or deported.
“We are opposing what is happening,” said Pham on Thursday night. “We need to treat everyone with dignity and respect, and care for each other as a human family.”
U.S. bishops may only issue what is deemed a special message during plenary assemblies. Such messages are statements considered appropriate by the president of the conference, the administrative committee or the general membership, “in view of the circumstances at the time.”
To be approved, it must receive the support of two-thirds of the conference members who are present and eligible to vote at the plenary. The message passed with 216 votes in favor, 5 against, and 3 abstentions.
“The fact that you’re seeing bishops that might not normally say something, say something, that’s a good metric, or litmus test, for the sense of injustice that’s happening,” said the Rev. Scott Santarosa of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Logan Heights.
Local religious leaders agreed that such a message from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is rare but stressed the importance of taking a stand. The last time the body of bishops voted to send a special message was in 2013, in response to the federal government’s contraceptive mandate.
“We cannot keep our mouths shut because this is a human issue, an issue of human dignity,” Bejarano said about this week’s message. “That’s why it was so important that all of us as bishops were able to come together with one voice.”
The action follows the lead of Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic church, who has been critical of the treatment of immigrants in the U.S. The White House’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on the statements at the time, saying that “this Administration is trying to enforce our nation’s laws in the most humane way possible.”
For several months, a group of volunteers, including Catholic church leaders, has accompanied people to their scheduled check-in appointments with ICE.
A woman holds a photo during the vigil Thursday. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Volunteers have witnessed some of these individuals being detained and temporarily transferred to a detention facility in the basement of the building.
Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, who attended the vigil, said he and fellow congressional representatives would try again to gain access to inspect the conditions inside the facility, after having been recently denied access twice.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement at the time that “no staff were available to process such a request during the government shutdown,” and denied allegations of subprime conditions.
During the vigil, a woman tearfully shared that her husband, a construction worker who had lived in the country for over 30 years, was detained last month following his immigration hearing and now faces deportation.
“It’s very hard for me to be here again and speak,” she said in Spanish. “On Oct. 9, my family was separated.”
“You are not alone!” chanted those present in Spanish in response.
“We have heard the people,” said Pulido, who has accompanied migrants to their appointments. “We are on the ground. We know what’s going on.”
He did not hesitate when asked if he believed the bishops’ message would reach the White House.
“I’m sure it will,” he said.