{"id":55866,"date":"2025-12-08T19:29:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T19:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/?page_id=55866"},"modified":"2026-06-15T16:30:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T16:30:34","slug":"immigration-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/es\/immigration-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Inmigraci\u00f3n"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 mosaic_width et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row_fullwidth  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_button_module_wrapper et_pb_button_0_wrapper et_pb_button_alignment_center et_pb_module \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"et_pb_button et_d4_element et_pb_button_0 hover-btn-border et_hover_enabled et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module\" href=\"http:\/\/dignity-of-work\/#newsletter\" data-icon=\"5\">Join our Newsletter<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_1 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_0 classic_socialism  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1><span style=\"text-align: left; color: #054368;\">Immigration<\/span><\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_1 classic_socialism  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-align: left; color: #eb7425;\">An Overview<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_2 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2 M-3_grid  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_2 M-3_grid-item M-3_grid-item2 fade-text et_animated et_hover_enabled  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Human Dignity<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_3 M-3_grid-item M-3_grid-item3 fade-text et_hover_enabled  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Living in Moral Integrity<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_4 M-3_grid-item M-3_grid-item4 grid-item_gap-fill fade-text  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_5 M-3_grid-item M-3_grid-item1 fade-text et_hover_enabled et_pb_section_video_on_hover et_pb_section_parallax_hover  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Rights of Immigrants and the Rights of Nations<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_6 M-3_grid-item M-3_grid-item4 fade-text et_animated et_hover_enabled  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>There Must Be a Path to Reconciliation<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_7 M-3_grid-item M-3_grid-item5 fade-text et_hover_enabled  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Moral vs. Legal<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_3 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_3 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_3  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_8  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201cEvery country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter\u201d.<\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"alternate-link init\" href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicworldreport.com\/2025\/11\/18\/pope-leo-xiv-urges-humane-treatment-of-immigrants-calls-for-heeding-u-s-bishops-message\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pope Leo XIV<\/a><\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201c...albeit always in safeguarding respect for the dignity of each human person\u201d.<\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a class=\"alternate-link init\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/messages\/migration\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121012_world-migrants-day.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pope Benedict XVI<\/a><\/strong><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_4  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_4  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_0 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_9  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #054368;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span> Find What You're Looking For <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_5  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_5  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_10 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/immigration-overview\/#distinction\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>The Legal Distinction Most Miss<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#yesand\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>It's Yes\/And Not Either\/Or<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#less\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Breaking the Law Can Be Less Sinful?<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#stories\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Immigration is About People<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#principles\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Applying Principles to Real Scenarios<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#rights\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>The Duties of Immigrants and Governments<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_6  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_11 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#contradiction\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>When Reform is Necessary<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#moralintegrity\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Moral Integrity<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#pastors\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Guidance for Pastors and Those Who Work with Immigrants<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#justice\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Voting for a Just System<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/\/immigration-overview\/#concerns\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Legitimate Concerns and Questions<\/strong><\/span><\/a><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/abortion\/#prayer\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425; font-size: medium;\"><strong><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_6 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_7  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_1 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_5 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_7 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_8 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_12 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Catholic Teaching on Law, Morality, and Undocumented Immigrants<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_13 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Immigration is one of the most polarizing issues in American public life, and much of the debate collapses complex legal, moral, and political questions into oversimplified narratives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Amidst this complexity, one fundamental question often emerges for those seeking moral clarity: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\"><strong>If someone entered or stayed in the United States illegally, have they committed a serious sin?<\/strong><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">The answer is not a simple yes or no.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">U.S. immigration law is complicated\u2014and often contradictory\u2014Catholic social and moral teaching is nuanced, and real human lives hang in the balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">This framework examines immigration through Catholic Social Teaching, while drawing on Catholic moral theology where questions of personal culpability arise.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_9 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_0\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Graffiti-on-a-blank-wall-that-reads-no-one-is-illegal-refering-to-the-immigration-crisis.jpg\" alt=\"Immigration is one of the most polarizing issues in American public life.\" title=\"Graffiti on a blank wall that reads no one is illegal, refering to the immigration crisis\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Graffiti-on-a-blank-wall-that-reads-no-one-is-illegal-refering-to-the-immigration-crisis.jpg 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Graffiti-on-a-blank-wall-that-reads-no-one-is-illegal-refering-to-the-immigration-crisis-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55762\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_8 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_10 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Graffiti-on-a-blank-wall-that-reads-no-one-is-illegal-refering-to-the-immigration-crisis.jpg\" alt=\"Immigration is one of the most polarizing issues in American public life.\" title=\"Graffiti on a blank wall that reads no one is illegal, refering to the immigration crisis\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Graffiti-on-a-blank-wall-that-reads-no-one-is-illegal-refering-to-the-immigration-crisis.jpg 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Graffiti-on-a-blank-wall-that-reads-no-one-is-illegal-refering-to-the-immigration-crisis-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55762\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_11 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_14 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Catholic Teaching on Law, Morality, and Undocumented Immigrants<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_15 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Immigration is one of the most polarizing issues in American public life, and much of the debate collapses complex legal, moral, and political questions into oversimplified narratives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Amidst this complexity, one fundamental question often emerges for those seeking moral clarity: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\"><strong>If someone entered or stayed in the United States illegally, have they committed a serious sin?<\/strong><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">The answer is not a simple yes or no.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">U.S. immigration law is complicated\u2014and often contradictory\u2014Catholic social and moral teaching is nuanced, and real human lives hang in the balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #054368;\">This framework examines immigration through Catholic Social Teaching, while drawing on Catholic moral theology where questions of personal culpability arise.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_6 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_9 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_12  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_2 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"distinction\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_7 mosaic_width et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_10 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_13  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_16  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">The Legal Distinction Most People Get Wrong<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_17  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S. immigration laws operate on <strong>two distinct tracks: civil and criminal<\/strong>. This dual structure is a source of considerable confusion and has significant practical implications.<\/span><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"adamant\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_8 mosaic_width et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_11 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_14  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_18 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Why This Matters<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A single person can face both tracks at once\u2014civil removal for unlawful presence and criminal charges for how they entered. This dual nature creates confusion and has significant implications for how we evaluate moral responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, civil violations are not crimes and the differences in rights and procedures between civil and criminal tracks create confusion and hardship.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_9 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_12 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_gutters2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_15  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_2\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Boone-County-Courthouse-in-Harrison-Arkansas.jpg\" alt=\"Most violations of immigration status are civil matters.\" title=\"Boone County Courthouse in Harrison, Arkansas\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Boone-County-Courthouse-in-Harrison-Arkansas.jpg 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Boone-County-Courthouse-in-Harrison-Arkansas-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55954\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_19  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Civil Violations<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_20 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Most violations of immigration status are civil matters. These include:<br \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Overstaying a visa<\/li>\n<li>Working without authorization<\/li>\n<li>Being present in the U.S. without proper documentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><b>These are not crimes.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> They are handled in immigration court. The penalty is usually deportation, not jail. There is no right to a free attorney. <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_16  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-ICE-Deportation-Officer-conducts-a-check-on-detainees-during-a-repatriation-flight-to-Central-America.jpg\" alt=\"Certain immigration-related actions are considered crimes and are prosecuted in federal criminal court.\" title=\"ICE Deprtation Officer onboard ICE Air\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-ICE-Deportation-Officer-conducts-a-check-on-detainees-during-a-repatriation-flight-to-Central-America.jpg 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-ICE-Deportation-Officer-conducts-a-check-on-detainees-during-a-repatriation-flight-to-Central-America-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55952\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_21  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Criminal Violations<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_22 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><span>Certain immigration-related actions are considered crimes and are prosecuted in federal criminal court. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Improper entry (first offense is a misdemeanor) 8 U.S.C. 1325<\/li>\n<li>Illegal reentry after removal (felony)<\/li>\n<li>Immigration fraud (e.g., marriage or document fraud).<\/li>\n<li>Human trafficking or smuggling<\/li>\n<li>Harboring undocumented individuals<br \/>\n<em><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/>\n<span>These are prosecuted in federal criminal courts and can result in imprisonment.<\/p>\n<p>For more background, see: <a href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/immigration-and-mass-deportations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">The President and the Pope\u200b<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_13 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_gutters2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_17  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_23  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">In Summary<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_24 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><table border=\"1\" style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #000000;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><strong>Civil Immigration Track<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><strong>Criminal Immigration Track<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span><b>Typical Violations<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Overstaying visa, unauthorized work.<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Illegal entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), reentry, fraud.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span><b>Court System<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Immigration Court (DOJ).<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Federal District Court.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span><b>Consequences<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Deportation\/Removal.<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Fines, Prison, + Deportation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span><b>Constitutional Rights<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Limited (No right to appointed counsel).<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #000000; width: 33.3025%;\"><span>Full (Right to an attorney, jury trial)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_10 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_14 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_18  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_3 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"yesand\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_11 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_15 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_19 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-stands-at-the-border-wall-dividing-the-town-of-Nogales-in-two.-This-photo-was-taken-on-the-U.S.-side-of-the-border.jpg\" alt=\"Catholic social teaching on immigration rests on two complementary truths.\" title=\"An immigrant stands at the border wall dividing the town of Nogales in two. This photo was taken on the U.S. side of the border\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-stands-at-the-border-wall-dividing-the-town-of-Nogales-in-two.-This-photo-was-taken-on-the-U.S.-side-of-the-border.jpg 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-stands-at-the-border-wall-dividing-the-town-of-Nogales-in-two.-This-photo-was-taken-on-the-U.S.-side-of-the-border-480x343.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55838\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_20 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_25  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">The Church\u2019s \u201cYes\/And\u201d Teaching<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_26  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Catholic social teaching on immigration rests on two complementary truths.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>CST is not \u201copen borders.\u201d Nor is it \u201cclosed borders.\u201d<\/strong> The Church acknowledges both the right to migrate and the responsibility to regulate migration. Catholic Social Teaching never chooses between compassion and the rule of law. It insists on both.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Yes \u2014 People have the right to migrate<\/strong><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\u201cThe right of persons to migrate \u2013 as The Pastoral Constitution of the Church <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/hist_councils\/ii_vatican_council\/documents\/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gaudium et Spes<\/a>, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 65, recalled \u2013 is numbered among the fundamental human rights\u201d.<\/span> <\/span><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/messages\/migration\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121012_world-migrants-day.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>And \u2014 Nations have the right to regulate migration.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\u201cEvery country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter,\u201d <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicworldreport.com\/2025\/11\/18\/pope-leo-xiv-urges-humane-treatment-of-immigrants-calls-for-heeding-u-s-bishops-message\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Pope Leo XIV)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Pope St. John Paul II taught that \"The exercise of such a right is to be regulated, because practicing it indiscriminately may do harm and be detrimental to the common good of the community that receives the migrant\". <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/messages\/migration\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_mes_20010213_world-migration-day-2001.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Message for World Day of Migration, 3)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Pope Benedict XVI similarly noted that \"every state has the right to regulate migration and to enact policies dictated by the general requirements of the common good, albeit always in safeguarding respect for the dignity of each human person\" <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/messages\/migration\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121012_world-migrants-day.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Message for World Day of Migrants)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>The Church refuses the false choice. <\/strong> We must defend both human dignity and ordered migration. These principles reflect CST\u2019s commitment the common good.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more Church sources, see: <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/immigration-quotes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Immigration Quotes from the Church)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"less\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_12 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_16 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_21 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_27 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">When Breaking Immigration Law Is Not (or Is Less) Sinful <br \/><\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_28 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>St. Thomas Aquinas taught that in cases of extreme necessity, a person may take what is not legally his because \u201cin cases of need all things are common property\u201d. Taking what one needs for survival is not theft\u2014necessity suspends the normal property right. (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 66, Art. 7)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"\/universal-destination-of-goods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Learn more at Universal Destination of Goods)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Catholic moral theology applies this principle to immigration pointing out that when a law obstructs survival, the moral responsibility of the person may be reduced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Catechism applies the same logic to civil authority: citizens are not obliged in conscience to obey directives \u201ccontrary to the demands of the moral order\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/catechism\/en\/part_three\/section_two\/chapter_two\/article_4\/v_the_authorities_in_civil_society.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">(CCC 2242)<\/a> and recognizes a distinction between objective wrongdoing and subjective culpability. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/catechism\/en\/part_three\/section_one\/chapter_one\/article_8\/iv_the_gravity_of_sin_mortal_and_venial_sin.index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">(CCC 1857-1860)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Catholic Social Teaching evaluates immigration law in light of the human person and the common good.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Separately, Catholic moral theology recognizes that when a law stands between a person and life, safety, or the basic necessities of family, moral culpability for violating that law may be significantly diminished\u2014and in true cases of necessity can be absent altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>But Necessity Must Be Genuine<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span>This principle applies only when the necessity is real and grave:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Fleeing violence or persecution<\/li>\n<li>Escaping conditions that threaten life<\/li>\n<li>Seeking the means to feed one's family when no option exists at home<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/><span><b>The further a person is from genuine necessity, the less this moral mitigation applies.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_22 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"528\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-father-holds-his-young-son.jpg\" alt=\"Immigration law that stands between a person and life, safety, or the basic family necessities reduces the moral culpability for violating that law.\" title=\"An immigrant father holds his young son\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-father-holds-his-young-son.jpg 792w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-father-holds-his-young-son-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 792px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55898\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_17 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_23 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"528\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-father-holds-his-young-son.jpg\" alt=\"Immigration law that stands between a person and life, safety, or the basic family necessities reduces the moral culpability for violating that law.\" title=\"An immigrant father holds his young son\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-father-holds-his-young-son.jpg 792w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-father-holds-his-young-son-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 792px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55898\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_24 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_29 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">When Breaking Immigration Law Is Not (or Is Less) Sinful<br \/><\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_30 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>St. Thomas Aquinas taught that in cases of extreme necessity, a person may take what is not legally his because \u201cin cases of need all things are common property\u201d. Taking what one needs for survival is not theft\u2014necessity suspends the normal property right. (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 66, Art. 7)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"\/universal-destination-of-goods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Learn more at Universal Destination of Goods)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Catholic moral theology applies this principle to immigration pointing out that when a law obstructs survival, the moral responsibility of the person may be reduced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Catechism applies the same logic to civil authority: citizens are not obliged in conscience to obey directives \u201ccontrary to the demands of the moral order\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/catechism\/en\/part_three\/section_two\/chapter_two\/article_4\/v_the_authorities_in_civil_society.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">(CCC 2242)<\/a> and recognizes a distinction between objective wrongdoing and subjective culpability. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/catechism\/en\/part_three\/section_one\/chapter_one\/article_8\/iv_the_gravity_of_sin_mortal_and_venial_sin.index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">(CCC 1857-1860)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Catholic Social Teaching evaluates immigration law in light of the human person and the common good.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, Catholic moral theology recognizes that when a law stands between a person and life, safety, or the basic necessities of family, moral culpability for violating that law may be significantly diminished\u2014and in true cases of necessity can be absent altogether.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>But Necessity Must Be Genuine<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span>This principle applies only when the necessity is real and grave:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Fleeing violence or persecution<\/li>\n<li>Escaping conditions that threaten life<\/li>\n<li>Seeking the means to feed one's family when no option exists at home<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/><span><b>The further a person is from genuine necessity, the less this moral mitigation applies.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_13 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_18 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_25  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_4 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"stories\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_14 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_19 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_26  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_31  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #eb7425;\">Real-Life Immigration Scenarios: Applying Catholic Teaching<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"profound-crisis\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_15 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_20 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_gutters2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_27  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_7\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-hispanic-mother-cooking-in-her-kitchen-and-looking-at-the-camera.jpg\" alt=\"Immigration law must provide a pathway to citizenship and legal status for those fleeing violence.\" title=\"A hispanic mother cooking in her kitchen and looking at the camera\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-hispanic-mother-cooking-in-her-kitchen-and-looking-at-the-camera.jpg 504w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-hispanic-mother-cooking-in-her-kitchen-and-looking-at-the-camera-480x720.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 504px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55910\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_32  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Maria \u2014 The Mother Fleeing Violence<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_33  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Maria lived in rural Honduras where gang violence had already killed her husband. The gangs threatened to recruit her 14-year-old son or kill him. Local police were either powerless or complicit. She crossed the border illegally with her children.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catholic moral analysis<\/strong>: Maria faced a genuine threat to life. Her illegal entry carries minimal or no moral culpability because she was acting under extreme necessity to protect her children\u2014a fundamental moral duty. She should seek asylum and legal pathways, but her entry itself was not sinful given the circumstances.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_28  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_8\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-hispanic-young-man-wearing-a-striped-shirt-on-an-empty-street.jpg\" alt=\"Immigration law cannot punish immigrants in good standing who were brought illegally by their parents.\" title=\"A hispanic young man wearing a striped shirt on an empty street\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-hispanic-young-man-wearing-a-striped-shirt-on-an-empty-street.jpg 504w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-hispanic-young-man-wearing-a-striped-shirt-on-an-empty-street-480x720.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 504px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55911\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_34  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Carlos \u2014 The DACA Recipient<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_35 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Carlos was brought to the United States by his parents at age 3. He's now 25, has a college degree, works as a teacher, and has never known life in Mexico. He's lived his entire conscious life in the U.S. His legal status remains precarious.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catholic moral analysis<\/strong>: Carlos bears no moral responsibility for his parents' decision to bring him here. He has fulfilled his moral obligations by contributing to society, respecting just laws, and seeking legal pathways (through DACA). His \u201cillegal\u201d status is a legal category, not a moral failing. From the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching, a system that offers no permanent path forward raises serious questions of justice.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_29  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_9\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-businessman-with-sleeves-rolled-up-gazes-out-the-window-of-an-office.jpg\" alt=\"Proper immigration means that immigrants who come for economic gain have a moral responsibility to seek legal status.\" title=\"A businessman with sleeves rolled up gazes out the window of an office\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-businessman-with-sleeves-rolled-up-gazes-out-the-window-of-an-office.jpg 504w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-businessman-with-sleeves-rolled-up-gazes-out-the-window-of-an-office-480x720.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 504px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55912\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_36  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Roberto \u2014 The Economic Migrant<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_37 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Roberto came from a region with widespread poverty but no immediate threat to life. Legal pathways were unavailable, but his family was not starving. He crossed illegally to earn better wages and send money home.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catholic moral analysis<\/strong>: This is the most complex case. Roberto's situation involves genuine economic hardship but not extreme necessity. His illegal entry carries moral weight, though mitigated by:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>The lack of legal alternatives<\/li>\n<li>His intention to support family<\/li>\n<li>His subsequent conduct (working honestly, contributing to community)<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_0 hover-btn-border read-more et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>He has moral obligations to seek legal status if possible and to live virtuously. The degree of moral culpability depends on the severity of his family's need and whether legal options truly existed.<\/p>\n<p>The Church also encourages the state to create a better \"line\" for people like him.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_30  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_10\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-middle-aged-woman-in-a-yellow-dress-standing-and-smiling.jpg\" alt=\"Work has a deep spiritual dimension as in it we find a small part of Christ&#039;s cross.\" title=\"A middle aged woman in a yellow dress standing and smiling\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-middle-aged-woman-in-a-yellow-dress-standing-and-smiling.jpg 504w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-middle-aged-woman-in-a-yellow-dress-standing-and-smiling-480x720.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 504px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55913\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_38  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Elena \u2014 Twenty Years of Integration<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_39 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Elena entered illegally 20 years ago. She has since married a U.S. citizen, raised three citizen children, worked continuously, paid taxes, and been an active parish member. She now faces potential deportation with no path to legal status.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catholic moral analysis<\/strong>: Even if Elena's original entry carried moral fault (depending on her circumstances), she has since:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Fulfilled her obligations to contribute to the common good<\/li>\n<li>Built deep ties of solidarity with her community<\/li>\n<li>Raised children who are fully American<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_1 hover-btn-border read-more et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>The system that offers no path to reconciliation after two decades of positive integration fails both Elena and the common good. Catholic teaching would support legal reform creating a pathway for people in Elena's situation.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"principles\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_16 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_21 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_31  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_40  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #054368;\">A Deeper Dive into Elena's Story<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_17 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_22 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_32 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_41 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #eb7425;\">Why Long-Term Integration Creates Moral Claims<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span><span>Elena's case raises a crucial question: Does twenty years of presence and contribution create a moral claim to legal recognition\u2014even if the original entry was unlawful?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_42 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; font-family: 'Open Sans', Times, serif; color: #084369; text-align: left;\">Catholic Social Teaching suggests yes, for several reasons rooted in fundamental principles:<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_23 et_pb_gutters2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_33  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_2 hover-btn-border read-more et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">THE PRINCIPLE OF SOLIDARITY<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span>Solidarity recognizes that we are bound together in genuine relationships of mutual obligation. When someone has lived, worked, worshipped, and raised children alongside us for decades, they have become part of the social fabric. The Catechism teaches that solidarity is \"a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\". <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0015\/__P6Q.HTM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">(CCC, 1942)<\/a>\u00a0Elena has demonstrated this commitment through twenty years of contribution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The political community cannot treat these bonds as if they don't exist. Solidarity works both ways: just as Elena has obligations to her community, the community has developed obligations toward her.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_34  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_3 hover-btn-border read-more bullets-module et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>Elena's three children are U.S. citizens. They have the right to be raised by their mother in their own country. Catholic teaching prioritizes family unity and the best interests of children. Deporting Elena would either:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Separate citizen children from their mother (a grave harm), or<\/li>\n<li>Effectively exile citizen children to a country they've never known<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/>Neither outcome serves justice or the common good. The children's rights create corresponding duties for the state.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_35  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_4 hover-btn-border read-more bullets-module et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">THE COMMON GOOD AND PARTICIPATION<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>The common good requires that all members of society can participate fully in communal life. After two decades, Elena is a member of society in every meaningful sense except legal paperwork. She has:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Contributed economically through work and taxes<\/li>\n<li>Participated in civil society through her parish and community<\/li>\n<li>Raised the next generation of citizens<\/li>\n<li>Developed relationships of reciprocal obligation with neighbors, coworkers, and fellow parishioners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/>CST teaches that the common good requires \"the social conditions which allow people to reach their full potential\". <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0015\/__P6K.HTM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">(CCC, 1906)<\/a><\/span>\u00a0A system that permanently excludes long-term, contributing members from legal recognition fails to serve the common good\u2014it creates a vulnerable underclass that can neither fully contribute nor claim basic protections.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_24 et_pb_gutters2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_36  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_5 hover-btn-border read-more et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p><span>Subsidiarity suggests that matters should be handled at the most local level competent to address them. Elena's integration has occurred at the local level\u2014in her neighborhood, workplace, school, and parish. These communities have accepted her as a member. The federal immigration system that offers no recognition of this local reality violates subsidiarity by overriding the organic social order that has developed.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_37  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_6 hover-btn-border read-more et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">TIME AND THE POSSIBILITY OF REDEMPTION<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p><span>Catholic moral theology recognizes that humans can change, grow, and make amends. Even if Elena's original entry carried moral fault, twenty years of virtuous living, contribution, and integration represent a form of moral transformation. A system that offers no pathway to reconciliation\u2014no way for past wrongs to be overcome through present virtue\u2014contradicts the Christian understanding of redemption and second chances.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_38  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_7 hover-btn-border read-more et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">THE STATE&#039;S OWN COMPLICITY<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p><span>Finally, we must acknowledge that the state itself has tacitly permitted Elena's presence for twenty years. She has worked (often for employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers), paid taxes with an ITIN, sent her children to public schools, and lived openly in her community. The government accepted her tax payments and her children in schools while simultaneously maintaining her \"illegal\" status.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This creates a kind of administrative estoppel: the state cannot accept the benefits of someone's presence and contribution for decades, then suddenly claim it bears no responsibility for the situation that has developed.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_25 et_pb_gutters2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_39  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_8 hover-btn-border read-more et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">WHAT INTEGRATION DOES NOT MEAN<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p><span>This analysis does not mean that the mere passage of time erases all legal violations or that anyone who stays long enough automatically deserves status. The claim is more specific: In cases like Elena\u2019s the political community has developed real moral obligations toward that person that should be recognized in law.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The alternative\u2014treating decades of integration as if they create no obligations whatsoever\u2014fails to recognize the inherent dignity and social nature of the human person.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_40  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_41  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_18 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_26 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_42  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_5 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"rights\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_19 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_27 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_43  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_43  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Rights And Duties<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"work-foundation-cst\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_20 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_28 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_gutters2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_44  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_11 landscape\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farm-worker-picks-strawberries.jpg\" alt=\"Immigrants have responsibilities to the country that receives them.\" title=\"An immigrant farm worker picks strawberries\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farm-worker-picks-strawberries.jpg 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farm-worker-picks-strawberries-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55947\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_44  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Moral Duties of Immigrants \u2014 Even the Undocumented<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_45  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5>\u201cImmigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens\u201d.<\/h5>\n<h5><a class=\"alternate-link init\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/catechism\/en\/part_three\/section_two\/chapter_two\/article_4\/v_the_authorities_in_civil_society.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CCC 2241<\/a><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_46 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">Even those here without legal status retain real moral obligations:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Respect for persons and property<\/li>\n<li>Honest work and contribution to the common good<\/li>\n<li>Good-faith efforts to regularize status when possible<\/li>\n<li>Obedience to laws that protect public safety<\/li>\n<li>Learning the language and culture<\/li>\n<li>Paying taxes where required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/>\nThe Church never excuses law-breaking for mere convenience or economic advantage alone.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_45  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_12 landscape\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ICE-Enforcement-and-Removal-Operations-Fugitive-Operations-and-Special-Response-Team-members-conducted-a-high-risk-arrest-of-a-criminal-alien-in-Miami-Florida.jpg\" alt=\"Immigration policy fails if it ignores, families, dignity, integration, and paths to reconciliation.\" title=\"ERO Miami Special Response Team Support Fugitive Operations Arrest of Convicted Felon in Miami, Florida\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ICE-Enforcement-and-Removal-Operations-Fugitive-Operations-and-Special-Response-Team-members-conducted-a-high-risk-arrest-of-a-criminal-alien-in-Miami-Florida.jpg 900w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ICE-Enforcement-and-Removal-Operations-Fugitive-Operations-and-Special-Response-Team-members-conducted-a-high-risk-arrest-of-a-criminal-alien-in-Miami-Florida-480x319.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 900px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55950\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_47  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Duties of Government and Citizens<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_48 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>At the same time, the political community fails in its duty when it:<br \/><span><br \/><span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Ignores the deep integration of long-term residents<\/li>\n<li>Treats procedural violations as more important than human dignity<\/li>\n<li>Offers no realistic path to reconciliation for those who originally acted under necessity<\/li>\n<li>Creates permanent classes of vulnerable, exploitable people (CST rejects policies that treat migrants as disposable labor)<\/li>\n<li>Separates families without grave cause<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_46  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_13 landscape position-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Capitol-Senate.jpg\" alt=\"Catholic social teaching calls for immigration policy to reflect Human Dignity, Solidarity, and Subsidiarity which lead to the common good.\" title=\"Capitol-Senate\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_49  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">What Catholic Social Teaching Requires of Policy<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_50 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">Catholic principles of Human Dignity, Solidarity, Subsidiarity, which lead to the common good call for:<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li><strong>Pathways to legal status<\/strong> for long-term residents who contribute to society<\/li>\n<li><strong>Family unity<\/strong> as a priority in enforcement decisions<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special protection<\/strong> for children, DACA recipients, and refugees<\/li>\n<li><strong>Due process<\/strong> and respect for human rights in all proceedings<\/li>\n<li><strong>International cooperation<\/strong> to address root causes of forced migration<\/li>\n<li><strong>Just wage laws<\/strong> that don't incentivize exploitation of undocumented workers<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_21 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_29 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_47  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_6 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"contradiction\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_22 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_30 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_48 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_14\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1293\" height=\"1035\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-22love-wins22-sign-during-an-immigration-rally.jpg\" alt=\"A person can be legally \u201cillegal\u201d yet morally innocent.\" title=\"PhotoELF Edits:2017:01:29 --- Save - Overwrite --- crop\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-22love-wins22-sign-during-an-immigration-rally.jpg 1293w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-22love-wins22-sign-during-an-immigration-rally-1280x1025.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-22love-wins22-sign-during-an-immigration-rally-980x784.jpg 980w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-22love-wins22-sign-during-an-immigration-rally-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1293px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55933\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_49 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_51  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #eb7425;\">The Moral and Legal Contradiction<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_52 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2><strong>When There Is No Legal Path Forward: The Structural Failure of Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span>This is one of the most painful\u2014and common\u2014situations encountered.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A person may have violated immigration law (perhaps under duress or necessity), built a life of hard work and faith, raised U.S.-citizen children, and still face a system that offers no remedy. They are caught in a moral and legal contradiction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Here is the heart of the matter.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Catholic moral theology recognizes that a person may be legally in violation while morally innocent\u2014particularly when acting under genuine necessity.<\/p>\n<p>Catholic Social Teaching, in turn, evaluates whether legal systems that produce such situations remain ordered to the common good. Where they do not, reform becomes necessary.<\/p>\n<p>The ultimate Catholic answer to this contradiction is to distinguish between the two:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>A person can be in violation of civil immigration law<\/li>\n<li>While being morally blameless (when acting under true necessity)<\/li>\n<li>Or even praiseworthy (when fulfilling fundamental duties to family)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/>When human laws create impossible situations with no path to reconciliation,<strong> the system itself stands in need of reform. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThere are a lot of problems in the system\u201d. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicworldreport.com\/2025\/11\/18\/pope-leo-xiv-urges-humane-treatment-of-immigrants-calls-for-heeding-u-s-bishops-message\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"alternate-link\">(Pope Leo XIV)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"moralintegrity\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_23 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_31 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_50 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_53 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">How the Undocumented Can Live in Moral Integrity<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_54 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>For immigrants living in legal uncertainty Catholic moral theology offers guidance for personal moral integrity, while Catholic Social Teaching evaluates the justice of the surrounding legal and social structures:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before God \u2014 <\/strong>One's relationship with God is not dependent on immigration status. If the original violation occurred under genuine necessity and the person now lives virtuously and seeks legitimate paths forward, they can stand with clear conscience and approach the sacraments (where canonically possible) with a clear conscience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before family \u2014 <\/strong>The duty to feed and protect one's children is prior to immigration statutes. The obligation to provide for and protect one's family is fundamental. If immigration violation was necessary to fulfill this duty, the moral weight shifts away from the violation itself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before conscience<\/strong> \u2014 Conscience requires honest examination:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Has one acted with necessity rather than mere convenience?<\/li>\n<li>Does one contribute positively to the community?<\/li>\n<li>Does one seek lawful resolution where possible?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/>A well-formed conscience can find peace even when legal status remains irregular, if motivated by genuine necessity and characterized by virtuous living.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Before the political community \u2014 <\/strong>Catholic Social Teaching counsels\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Contributing to the common good through work, community participation<\/li>\n<li>Respecting laws that protect public safety and order<\/li>\n<li>Advocating for just reform of immigration systems<\/li>\n<li>Seeking legal pathways wherever they exist, however imperfect<\/li>\n<li>Living with integrity and transparency where possible<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_51 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_15\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farmer-in-California-is-photographed-candidly-during-work.jpg\" alt=\"For the immigrant in the U.S. illegally, Catholic Social Teaching offers a clear moral framework for maintaining right relationship even amid legal limbo.\" title=\"An immigrant farmer in California is photographed candidly during work\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farmer-in-California-is-photographed-candidly-during-work.jpg 504w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farmer-in-California-is-photographed-candidly-during-work-480x720.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 504px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55930\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_32 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_52 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_16\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"756\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farmer-in-California-is-photographed-candidly-during-work.jpg\" alt=\"For the immigrant in the U.S. illegally, Catholic Social Teaching offers a clear moral framework for maintaining right relationship even amid legal limbo.\" title=\"An immigrant farmer in California is photographed candidly during work\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farmer-in-California-is-photographed-candidly-during-work.jpg 504w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-immigrant-farmer-in-California-is-photographed-candidly-during-work-480x720.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 504px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55930\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_53 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_55 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">How the Undocumented Can Live in Moral Integrity<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_56 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>For immigrants living in legal uncertainty Catholic moral theology offers guidance for personal moral integrity, while Catholic Social Teaching evaluates the justice of the surrounding legal and social structures:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before God \u2014 <\/strong>One's relationship with God is not dependent on immigration status. If the original violation occurred under genuine necessity and the person now lives virtuously and seeks legitimate paths forward, they can stand with clear conscience and approach the sacraments (where canonically possible) with a clear conscience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before family \u2014 <\/strong>The duty to feed and protect one's children is prior to immigration statutes. The obligation to provide for and protect one's family is fundamental. If immigration violation was necessary to fulfill this duty, the moral weight shifts away from the violation itself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before conscience<\/strong> \u2014 Conscience requires honest examination:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Has one acted with necessity rather than mere convenience?<\/li>\n<li>Does one contribute positively to the community?<\/li>\n<li>Does one seek lawful resolution where possible?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><br \/>A well-formed conscience can find peace even when legal status remains irregular, if motivated by genuine necessity and characterized by virtuous living.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Before the political community \u2014 <\/strong>Catholic Social Teaching counsels<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li>Contributing to the common good through work, community participation<\/li>\n<li>Respecting laws that protect public safety and order<\/li>\n<li>Advocating for just reform of immigration systems<\/li>\n<li>Seeking legal pathways wherever they exist, however imperfect<\/li>\n<li>Living with integrity and transparency where possible<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_24 mosaic_width et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_33 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_54  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_57  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5><strong>We must always remember:<\/strong><\/h5>\n<h5>This moral framework is contingent on the extent to which the person is fleeing threats to life, safety, or securing basic necessities for their family. If this is absolutely the case, the principles above apply fully. As one becomes removed from this condition, their moral justification likewise reduces.<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"pastors\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_25 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_34 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_55 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_17\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Catholic-priest-prays-with-a-class-of-students-in-a-classroom.jpg\" alt=\"Pastors and immigration workers should affirm dignity, examine circumstances, and offer hope.\" title=\"A Catholic priest prays with a class of students in a classroom\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Catholic-priest-prays-with-a-class-of-students-in-a-classroom.jpg 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Catholic-priest-prays-with-a-class-of-students-in-a-classroom-480x451.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55927\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_56 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_58  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Guidance for Pastors and Immigration Workers<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_59  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span><span>When counseling parishioners (and immigrants) about immigration status:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li><span><span><strong>Affirm their dignity<\/strong> - Their worth before God is not contingent on legal status<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span><strong>Examine circumstances<\/strong> - Was there genuine necessity? Are there legal pathways now?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><strong>Clarify moral duties<\/strong> \u2013 Make the distinction between legal and moral standing and how motivating circumstances affects culpability. Point out that even irregular status doesn't exempt from obligations to community<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><strong>Offer hope<\/strong> - God's mercy is infinite; legal status doesn't determine salvation<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><strong>Encourage advocacy<\/strong> - Direct them toward just immigration reform efforts<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><strong>Provide resources<\/strong> - Connect them with Catholic legal services and immigration attorneys<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #054368;\"><strong>Remember:<\/strong> <strong>Your role is spiritual guidance, not legal advice.<\/strong> Partner with qualified immigration attorneys for legal questions.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_26 mosaic_width et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_35 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_57  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_60  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">Pope St. John Paul II put it best:<\/span><\/h5>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\u201cThe challenge is to combine the welcome due to every human being, especially when in need, with a reckoning of what is necessary for both the local inhabitants and the new arrivals to live a dignified and peaceful life\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_button_module_wrapper et_pb_button_1_wrapper et_pb_button_alignment_center et_pb_module \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"et_pb_button et_d4_element et_pb_button_1 hover-btn-border et_hover_enabled et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/messages\/peace\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_mes_20001208_xxxiv-world-day-for-peace.html\" data-icon=\"5\">World Day of Peace, 13<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"justice\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_27 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_36 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_58 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_61 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Toward a Just and Humane Immigration Framework<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_62 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Catholic Social Teaching refuses false choices. It insists on both compassion and responsibility, on both the dignity of immigrants and the legitimate concerns of the political community.<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2014and must\u2014defend both human dignity and the rule of law. Until our laws better reflect that balance, millions of our brothers and sisters will live in the shadows.<\/p>\n<p>CST challenges citizens to advocate for immigration policies that recognize the full human dignity of every person and create pathways for reconciliation that truly serve the common good.<\/p>\n<p>Catholics are called to:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol style=\"padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li><strong>Educate<\/strong> ourselves and others about Catholic Social Teaching on immigration and what the Church actually teaches.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advocate and pray<\/strong> for comprehensive, dignified and just immigration reform at local, state, and federal levels that respect both human dignity and the common good.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remember<\/strong> that no government document determines a person's worth before God.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support<\/strong> Catholic services that help immigrants to legally navigate the system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reject<\/strong> anti-immigrant rhetoric that dehumanizes or scapegoats.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create welcoming spaces<\/strong> where immigration status is not a barrier to participation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support immigration legal clinics<\/strong> through Catholic Charities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provide pastoral care<\/strong> without regard to documentation<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_59 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_18\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"Catholic Social Teaching insists on both compassion and responsibility, on both the dignity of immigrants and the legitimate concerns of the political community.\" title=\"New citizens take the oath of citizenship during a ceremony\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1200px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55848\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_37 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_60 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_19\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"Catholic Social Teaching insists on both compassion and responsibility, on both the dignity of immigrants and the legitimate concerns of the political community.\" title=\"New citizens take the oath of citizenship during a ceremony\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-citizens-take-the-oath-of-citizenship-during-a-ceremony-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1200px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-55848\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_61 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_63 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #054368;\">Toward a Just and Humane Immigration Framework<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_64 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Catholic Social Teaching refuses false choices. It insists on both compassion and responsibility, on both the dignity of immigrants and the legitimate concerns of the political community.<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2014and must\u2014defend both human dignity and the rule of law. Until our laws better reflect that balance, millions of our brothers and sisters will live in the shadows.<\/p>\n<p>CST challenges citizens to advocate for immigration policies that recognize the full human dignity of every person and create pathways for reconciliation that truly serve the common good.<\/p>\n<p>Catholics are called to:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol style=\"padding-bottom: 0;\">\n<li><strong>Educate<\/strong> ourselves and others about Catholic Social Teaching on immigration and what the Church actually teaches.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advocate and pray<\/strong> for comprehensive, dignified and just immigration reform at local, state, and federal levels that respect both human dignity and the common good.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remember<\/strong> that no government document determines a person's worth before God.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support<\/strong> Catholic services that help immigrants to legally navigate the system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reject<\/strong> anti-immigrant rhetoric that dehumanizes or scapegoats.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create welcoming spaces<\/strong> where immigration status is not a barrier to participation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support immigration legal clinics<\/strong> through Catholic Charities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provide pastoral care<\/strong> without regard to documentation<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_28 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_38 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_62  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_7 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"concerns\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_29 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_39 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_63  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_65  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4><span style=\"color: #eb7425;\">Legitimate Concerns and Complexities<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_66  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5>Catholic Social Teaching's emphasis on human dignity and the right to migrate does not mean other concerns lack validity. A complete analysis must acknowledge the real tensions and trade-offs involved in immigration policy.<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_button_module_wrapper et_pb_button_2_wrapper et_pb_button_alignment_center et_pb_module \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"et_pb_button et_d4_element et_pb_button_2 hover-btn-border et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module\" href=\"\/immigration-overview\/immigration-pros-and-cons\/\" data-icon=\"5\">READ MORE ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF IMMIGRATION<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_30 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_40 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_64  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_8 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"adamant\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_31 mosaic_width et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_41 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_65  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_67 bullets-module  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Final Word<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">The burden falls on policymakers to craft laws that reflect human dignity and justice\u2014and to eliminate the contradictions that trap millions in moral and legal limbo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">But until that day comes, we must remember: <strong>our brothers and sisters who lack legal status are not less beloved by God, less worthy of dignity, or less part of our Christian community.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">In the meantime, immigrants can maintain moral integrity through faithfulness, virtue, community contribution, and care for family\u2014even when their legal status remains unresolved through no fault of their own willingness to comply.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_32 mosaic_width  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_42 et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_66  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_9 et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_33 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_43 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_67  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_68 et_animated  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4>Common Objections Answered<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_9 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: Does the Catholic Church support open borders?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: No \u2014 and this is one of the most common misrepresentations of the Church's position. Catholic Social Teaching explicitly affirms that nations have the right to regulate migration. Pope Leo XIV stated clearly that \u201cevery country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter.\u201d Pope Benedict XVI similarly taught that &amp;quot;every state has the right to regulate migration and to enact policies dictated by the general requirements of the common good.&amp;quot; What the Church insists is that this legitimate authority must always be exercised \u201cin safeguarding respect for the dignity of each human person.\u201d The Church's position is not open borders. It is ordered, humane, and dignified borders \u2014 a distinction with enormous practical implications. See the <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/immigration-overview\/#yesand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yes\/And framework<\/a> on this page for the full teaching.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_10 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: Does the Catholic Church support strict border enforcement and deportation?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: The Church affirms the state's legitimate authority to enforce immigration law, including removal of those who have violated it. What it does not accept is enforcement that ignores human dignity, separates families without grave cause, treats procedural violations as equivalent to serious crimes, or offers no pathway to reconciliation for people who have lived virtuously and contributed to their communities for years or decades. The Church calls for enforcement that is both firm and just \u2014 not one or the other.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_11 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: But didn&#039;t they break the law? How can that not be sinful?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: Catholic moral theology has always distinguished between legal obligations and moral obligations \u2014 they are related but not identical. Not all laws carry the same moral weight, and not all violations of law are equally sinful. Breaking the speed limit, evading taxes, and murder are all illegal, but they are not morally equivalent. The Catechism itself recognizes that \u201cthe citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order.\u201d <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/catechism\/en\/part_three\/section_two\/chapter_two\/article_4\/v_the_authorities_in_civil_society.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(CCC, 2242)<\/a> When a mother crosses a border illegally to escape gang violence that has already killed her husband, her act is legally impermissible but may carry little or no moral fault. The Church never excuses law-breaking for mere convenience or economic advantage alone \u2014 but it insists that legal status and moral standing are not the same thing.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_12 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: Is it a sin to be in the United States without legal documentation?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\">A: The answer depends on the circumstances, and Catholic moral theology is precise about this. Civil immigration violations \u2014 overstaying a visa, being present without documentation \u2014 are not crimes under U.S. law; they are civil matters handled in immigration court. More importantly, Catholic moral theology distinguishes between objective legal violations and moral culpability.<\/p>\n<p>When someone crosses a border to escape violence, persecution, or genuine threat to their family's survival, their moral responsibility for the violation may be significantly diminished \u2014 and in cases of true necessity, may be absent altogether. The further a person is from genuine necessity \u2014 the closer they are to economic opportunism with viable alternatives \u2014 the greater the moral weight of the violation. There is no single answer that covers every case. See <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/immigration-overview\/#stories\">the scenarios of Maria, Carlos, Roberto, and Elena<\/a> on this page for concrete applications.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_13 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: Aren&#039;t you just encouraging illegal immigration by saying this?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: No. The Church clearly teaches that immigrants have real moral obligations and that nations have legitimate authority to regulate borders. The Church's teaching is not political advocacy for any particular immigration policy. What it explains is a consistent doctrinal principle: legal status and moral standing are not identical. A person can be in violation of civil law while acting morally \u2014 or even heroically \u2014 when genuine necessity compels it. The Church simultaneously calls for immigration reform that creates humane, realistic legal pathways, so that fewer people face impossible choices in the first place. Acknowledging the moral complexity of a situation is not the same as endorsing the situation.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_14 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: What about people who waited in line legally? Isn&#039;t this unfair to them?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: This is a legitimate concern about justice and the common good, and the Church takes it seriously. Pope St. John Paul II taught that the challenge is \"to combine the welcome due to every human being, especially when in need, with a reckoning of what is necessary for both the local inhabitants and the new arrivals to live a dignified and peaceful life.\" <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/messages\/peace\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_mes_20001208_xxxiv-world-day-for-peace.html\">(World Day of Peace, 13)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, this concern assumes there is always a viable &amp;quot;line&amp;quot; to wait in. For many people \u2014 especially those fleeing immediate danger or extreme poverty \u2014 no realistic legal pathway exists under the current U.S. system, regardless of how long they wait. The Church's answer is not to eliminate the concern for order, but to advocate for a system that is both orderly and humane, respecting those who followed existing rules while providing realistic options for those trapped by the absence of any path forward.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_15 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: If someone stays here illegally for years, doesn&#039;t that make it worse?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: Not necessarily \u2014 and sometimes the opposite. If a person originally entered under genuine necessity, their continued presence may actually demonstrate their positive contribution to the common good: working honestly, raising children, participating in parish life, paying taxes.<\/p>\n<p>Catholic Social Teaching recognizes that long-term integration creates bonds of solidarity and mutual obligation that carry genuine moral weight. The political community has real obligations toward those who have become part of the social fabric \u2014 especially children who have grown up knowing no other home. A system that offers no pathway to reconciliation after decades of virtuous living fails both justice and the common good. Pope Leo XIV acknowledged directly: \"There are a lot of problems in the system.\"<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_16 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: What does the Church say about DACA recipients and people brought here as children?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: The Church's position is clear: children bear no moral responsibility for decisions made by their parents. A person brought to the United States at age three who has lived their entire conscious life here, attended school here, worked here, and built their relationships here has deep and legitimate moral claims on the community that raised them. Catholic Social Teaching would evaluate a system that offers no permanent path forward for such people as a serious failure of justice. The children's own dignity and the bonds of solidarity they have formed create corresponding obligations for the political community.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_17 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: What is the difference between a civil immigration violation and a criminal immigration violation?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: This is one of the most practically important distinctions in the entire immigration debate, and one of the most widely misunderstood. Most immigration violations \u2014 overstaying a visa, being present without documentation, working without authorization \u2014 are civil matters, not crimes. They are handled in immigration court, not criminal court, with no right to an appointed attorney, and the penalty is removal rather than imprisonment. A separate track of criminal immigration violations exists for things like illegal reentry after deportation, immigration fraud, and human smuggling \u2014 prosecuted in federal criminal courts with full constitutional protections. Conflating civil and criminal violations \u2014 treating everyone without documentation as a \"criminal\" \u2014 is both legally inaccurate and morally significant, because it affects how we evaluate culpability and how we form our consciences about enforcement. The full breakdown is above, on this page.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_18 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: Is it a sin to hire undocumented workers?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\">A: Catholic moral theology evaluates this with reference to the conditions involved. Knowingly hiring undocumented workers at exploitative wages, in unsafe conditions, or specifically because their legal vulnerability prevents them from complaining \u2014 this is a grave violation of the Church's teaching on the <a class='alternate-link' href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/dignity-of-work\/\">dignity of work<\/a> and the rights of workers. It also contributes to the structural conditions that trap people in vulnerability.<\/p>\n<p>Hiring someone in good faith, treating them with justice and dignity, and paying a fair wage is a different moral situation \u2014 though it does not resolve the underlying legal question. The Church has consistently condemned the use of undocumented workers as a disposable labor pool, and consistently affirmed that every worker, regardless of legal status, retains rights that cannot be bargained away.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_19 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: What does the Church say about family separation in immigration enforcement?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: Catholic Social Teaching treats the family as the fundamental cell of society and the \"sanctuary of life.\" Deliberately separating families \u2014 removing a parent from citizen children, or forcing citizen children to choose between their country and their parent \u2014 without grave cause is a serious harm the Church rejects. This is not a political preference; it flows directly from the same doctrinal foundation that grounds the Church's teaching on marriage and family across every other issue. The Church calls for family unity to be a priority consideration in enforcement decisions, not an afterthought.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_20 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: What does the Church say about the root causes of migration?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: Catholic Social Teaching insists that a just response to immigration cannot focus only on the border \u2014 it must address why people leave. Poverty, violence, persecution, and the failure of states to protect their own citizens drive most migration. The Church calls for international cooperation to address these root causes, trade policies that do not impoverish developing nations, and support for what some documents call \"the right not to have to migrate\" \u2014 the right of people to remain in and flourish in their homelands. Enforcement-only approaches treat the symptom while ignoring the disease. This is why the Church calls on wealthy nations to consider their own economic and foreign policies as part of any honest reckoning with migration.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_21 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: Does the Church say Catholics must support a specific immigration policy?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: No. The Church does not endorse specific legislation or political platforms. It provides moral principles \u2014 <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/human-dignity\/\">human dignity<\/a>, <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/solidarity\/\">solidarity<\/a>, <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/subsidiarity\/\">subsidiarity<\/a>, <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/the-common-good\/\">the common good<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 that must inform Catholic engagement with policy. Catholics can legitimately disagree on specific questions: how many legal immigrants to admit, what enforcement mechanisms to use, how to prioritize visa categories. What Catholics cannot do, consistent with Church teaching, is support policies that deny the fundamental dignity of migrants, treat human beings as disposable, separate families without just cause, or strip due process from those facing removal. No party platform perfectly reflects Catholic Social Teaching. Catholics are called to engage the complexity rather than retreat to partisan shortcuts.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_22 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: How should Catholics vote on immigration issues?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\">A: The Church teaches that participation in political life is a moral obligation. On immigration specifically, Catholics should ask: Does this policy respect the dignity of every person? Does it acknowledge both the state's legitimate authority and the human rights of migrants? Does it protect families? Does it offer realistic pathways rather than permanent legal limbo? Does it address root causes of migration? Does it reject the dehumanizing rhetoric that reduces persons to threats or statistics? No party fully satisfies Catholic Social Teaching. Catholics are called to form their consciences carefully and apply these principles to every candidate and policy they evaluate. The <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-voting\/\">voting page<\/a> offers further guidance.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_toggle et_pb_toggle_23 bullets-module et_animated et_pb_toggle_item  et_pb_toggle_close\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Q: Where can immigrants find Catholic legal assistance?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content clearfix\"><p>A: Catholic Charities USA operates one of the largest immigration legal services networks in the country, with offices in most dioceses. The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) provides direct legal services and supports a national network of Catholic immigration programs. Local diocesan offices often maintain their own immigration services. These organizations can<br \/>help with asylum applications, adjustment of status, DACA renewals, and related matters. Note: This page provides moral and theological guidance, not legal advice. For questions about a specific situation, please consult a qualified immigration attorney.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_34 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_44 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_animated  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_68  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_69 mosaic_width et_animated  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #eb7425;\">Catholic Social Teaching and Other Issues<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_35  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_45 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_gutters1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_69  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_70  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"issues-slider\" class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_slider et_pb_slider_0 mosaic-width et_animated et_pb_slider_fullwidth_off et_pb_slider_show_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slides\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_0 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center et-pb-active-slide\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_0\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2160\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/gender-theory-2.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/gender-theory-2.png 2160w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/gender-theory-2-1280x1280.png 1280w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/gender-theory-2-980x980.png 980w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/gender-theory-2-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 2160px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-47948\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/male-female-transgenderism\/\">Transgenderism<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are facing a\u00a0<em><strong>crisis<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<strong>in human sexuality<\/strong>\u00a0caused by a representation of human anthropology that cancels out differences between men and women.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_1 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_1\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Abortion.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/abortion\/\">Abortion<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most divisive issues during the past 50 years! <strong>Why is the Church so one-sided<\/strong> (and must always be so)?<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_2 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_2\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Racism.jpg\" alt=\"Racism is contrary to Christ and the teachings of the Gospel\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/racism-in-the-united-states\/\">Racism in the United States<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">The belief humanity can be divided into separate and <strong>exclusive biological entities with some races innately superior<\/strong> to others. This leads to personal and societal prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against other people because they are of a different race or ethnicity. What does Catholic social teaching have to say about <strong>such an insidious \u201cism\u201d<\/strong>? <strong>CLICK <\/strong>to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_3 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/CAPP-Socialism-Icon-1.png\" alt=\"The Church has consistently spoken out against socialism in all its forms, most recently, democratic socialism\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/socialism\/\">Democratic Socialism<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Candidates for President of the United States and many in congress espouse this as <strong>an alternative model for our country<\/strong>. <strong>What, exactly, is it?<\/strong> What does the Catholic Church say?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_4 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Climate-Change.jpg\" alt=\"Climate Change is a real issue and must be met with dialog, faith, and science, ordered toward the common good.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/climate-change\/\">Climate Change<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One political party committed the US to the Paris Agreement and proposes <strong>a \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d<\/strong>. Another party withdrew from the Paris Agreement and <strong>inimically opposes<\/strong> the other\u2019s proposal. What does Catholic social teaching say?<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_5 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/icon-10-1.png\" alt=\"Climate Change is a real issue and must be met with dialog, faith, and science, ordered toward the common good.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/immigration-overview\/\">Immigration<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Church recognizes the rights of nations to govern and protect themselves in the interests of the Common Good <em><strong>and <\/strong><\/em>\u201c\u2026the right of all men to migrate\u00a0to other countries and to seek conditions worthy of human life for themselves and for their families.\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/hist_councils\/ii_vatican_council\/documents\/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Gaudium et Spes)<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_6 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/National-health.jpg\" alt=\"national health care\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/universal-healthcare\/\">Universal Healthcare<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">US health care is, in many ways, <strong>the envy of the world<\/strong>. Would <strong>universal<\/strong>, <strong>or<\/strong> <strong>national, healthcare<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>improve it?<\/strong> See how Catholic social teaching can inform the discussion!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_7 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_7\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/icon-8-1.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/2024\/12\/euthanasia\/\">Euthanasia<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p>Without a Christian perspective, the world often seeks to avoid suffering at all costs and strives to make death as painless as possible. It is then that \u201c<strong>[w]e must accompany people towards death, but not provoke death<\/strong>\u00a0or facilitate any form of suicide.\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/francesco\/en\/audiences\/2022\/documents\/20220209-udienza-generale.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_button_wrapper\"><a class=\"et_pb_button et_pb_more_button\" href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/2024\/12\/euthanasia\/\">Click Here<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_8 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_8\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/The-family.jpg\" alt=\"The Family is the answer to the poisons destroying our society.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/the-family\/\">The Family<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The answer<\/strong> to the dangers to our society.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201cThe<strong>\u00a0<b>future of humanity<\/b>\u00a0passes <\/strong>by way of the family.\u201d<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/apost_exhortations\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Pope St. John Paul II, 86)\u200b<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_9 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_9\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Marriage.jpg\" alt=\"marriage\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/the-family\/\">Marriage<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">The<strong> foundation of the family.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>\"[T]ranscends the feelings <\/strong>and momentary needs of the couple\u201d. It is born \u201cfrom the<strong> depth of the obligation\u00a0<\/strong>assumed by the spouses\".<strong><i> <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/francesco\/en\/apost_exhortations\/documents\/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html\" rel=\"noopener\">(Pope Francis, 66)<\/a> <\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK <\/strong>to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_10 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_10\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/AI-icon.png\" alt=\"Climate Change is a real issue and must be met with dialog, faith, and science, ordered toward the common good.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/AI-icon.png 1080w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/AI-icon-980x980.png 980w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/AI-icon-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-57654\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/category\/all-articles\/artificial-intelligence\/\">Artificial Intelligence<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do we ensure that digital systems, like AI, remain ordered to the human person, to authentic work, to truth, and to the common good?<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_11 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_11\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/icon-7.png\" alt=\"Climate Change is a real issue and must be met with dialog, faith, and science, ordered toward the common good.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/dignity-of-work\/\">Dignity of Work<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\"We were\u00a0<strong>created<\/strong>\u00a0with a vocation<strong>\u00a0to work<\/strong>.\"<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_12 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_12\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gun-control-icon-1_v1_r3.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gun-control-icon-1_v1_r3.png 1080w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gun-control-icon-1_v1_r3-980x980.png 980w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gun-control-icon-1_v1_r3-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-53069\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/gun-control-pros-and-cons-and-self-defense\/\">Gun Control<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\"><strong>It is one of the most divisive and painful issues in the United States.<\/strong>\u00a0Gun ownership is an issue where there is legitimate diversity of opinion. How does the Church reconcile self-defense with the sacredness of human life?<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_13 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_13\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Overpopulation-icon-Draft-4.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Overpopulation-icon-Draft-4.png 1080w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Overpopulation-icon-Draft-4-980x980.png 980w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Overpopulation-icon-Draft-4-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-56825\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/overpopulation\/\">Overpopulation<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\">From the Church\u2019s perspective, <strong>the problem was never people themselves. <\/strong>The real question is not how many people the Earth can hold, but how we understand the human person.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_14 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_14\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/CAPP-Prison-Icon.png\" alt=\"Climate Change is a real issue and must be met with dialog, faith, and science, ordered toward the common good.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/CAPP-Prison-Icon.png 500w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/CAPP-Prison-Icon-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 500px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-52440\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/the-death-penalty\/\">The Death Penalty<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Church's historical teaching, the changes Pope Francis made, and what the Church teaches now.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_15 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_15\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Covid.jpg\" alt=\"Covid-19 is tearing families, communities, and nations apart. Catholic social teaching can guide us through it.\" data-et-multi-view=\"{&quot;schema&quot;:{&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;desktop&quot;:{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/capp-usa.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/Covid.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Covid-19 is tearing families, communities, and nations apart. Catholic social teaching can guide us through it.&quot;},&quot;phone&quot;:{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/capp-usa.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/CAPP_CrisisInfog-2004_Icons_medical-supplie.png&quot;}},&quot;target&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;hover_selector&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;et_pb_slide&quot;}\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/covid19\/\">COVID-19<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">The <strong>Crisis and<\/strong> <strong>the Cure<\/strong>: How does Catholic social teaching evaluate governments\u2019 response?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_16 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_16\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/The-Common-Good.png\" alt=\"The Family is the answer to the poisons destroying our society.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/The-Common-Good.png 720w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/The-Common-Good-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 720px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-49168\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/the-common-good\/\">The Common Good<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Common Good is\u00a0<strong>not<\/strong> a principle, but an aspirational <strong>result<\/strong>: \u201cthe sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily\u201d.\u00a0<a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0015\/__P6K.HTM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1906)<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_17 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_17\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Our-Physical-Environment.jpg\" alt=\"God has called us to be stewards of this world, our physical environment and common home.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/physical-environment\/\">Physical Environment<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p>This is <strong>about more than<\/strong> <strong>\u2018just\u2019 protecting<\/strong> the environment. There are profound spiritual dimensions involved.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_18 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_18\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Integral-Ecology.jpg\" alt=\"Physical and human environments are linked and only integral ecology can care or them both.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/integral-ecology\/\">Integral Ecology<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p>The <strong>solution to all<\/strong> our environmental problems!<\/p>\n<p><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_19 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_19\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-environment.jpg\" alt=\"How many talk about the serious destruction of our human environment where we grow, live, and work?\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/human-environment\/\">Human Environment<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201c[W]e must also mention <strong>the more serious destruction<\/strong> of the human environment, something which is by no means receiving the attention it deserves.\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_20 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_20\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Danger-societi.jpg\" alt=\"The Church has identified four dangers to society, pathologies, eating away at our culture.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/pathologies-overview\/\">The Four Dangers to Society<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Church identifies the major \u2018risks and problems\u2019 eating away at our cultural, economic and political systems. <strong>What are they?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_21 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_21\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Consumerism.jpg\" alt=\"Consumerism is a terrible affliction of the developed world and an affront to human dignity.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/consumerism\/\">Consumerism<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p>Having and wanting <strong>a lot of \u2018stuff\u2019 is at the heart of several of society\u2019s ills<\/strong>. Which ones? Why does this limit our freedom?<\/p>\n<p><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_22 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_22\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Environmental-Degradation.jpg\" alt=\"Our environments, both our physical and human (moral), are in peril, in more ways than you likely realize\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/environmental-degradation\/\">Environmental Degradation<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Yes! The environment is in danger. But, <strong>it is actually worse<\/strong> (and, more complicated) <strong>than you think<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_23 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_23\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Alienation.jpg\" alt=\"alienation\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"\/alienation\/\">Alienation<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society and individuals are alienated! We are \u201cmarked by <strong>a \u2018globalization of indifference\u2019<\/strong> that makes us\u2026closed in on ourselves.\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/francesco\/en\/messages\/peace\/documents\/papa-francesco_20131208_messaggio-xlvii-giornata-mondiale-pace-2014.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"alternate-link\"><em>(Pope Francis, 1)<\/em><\/span><\/a> \u00a0The consequences are devastating!<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CLICK<\/strong> to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_24  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_24\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Radical-Secularism.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\">Radical Secularism<\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>[COMING SOON]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>\u201cThe greatest challenge of our time\u201d!<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/speeches\/2006\/april\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060406_xxi-wyd.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"alternate-link\" style=\"color: #eb7425;\"><em>(Pope Benedict XVI, 3)<\/em><\/span>\u200b<\/a>\u00a0<span><strong>Why?<\/strong> Radical secularism holds that there is no such thing as an objective truth. But, \u201cWithout truth, without trust and love for what is true...social action ends up serving private interests and the logic of power.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>(Pope Benedict XVI, 5)<\/em>\u200b<\/a>\u00a0Sound familiar?<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_25 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_25\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/CAPP-Politics-Icon-v2.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/CAPP-Politics-Icon-v2.png 500w, https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/CAPP-Politics-Icon-v2-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 500px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-52428\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-voting\/\">How to Vote<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Participation in politics is a Christian obligation: <\/strong>\u201cWe, Christians, cannot \u2018play Pilate\u2019 and wash our hands\u2026We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity\u201d. <a class=\"alternate-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/francesco\/en\/speeches\/2013\/june\/documents\/papa-francesco_20130607_scuole-gesuiti.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>(Pope Francis)<\/em>\u200b<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>CLICK <\/strong>to read more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_71  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_36 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_46  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_72  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_70 mosaic_width  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4>Why These Issues Matter<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_71 mosaic_width  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5>Catholic social teaching informs our consciences and requires action from us, the lay faithful. \u201cWorking for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. <strong>It is a moral obligation.<\/strong><br \/>\nFor Christians, the responsibility is even greater: <strong>it is a commandment.<\/strong>\u201d<\/h5>\n<h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_72 mosaic_width  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><a class=\"alternate-link init\" href=\"http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/francesco\/en\/speeches\/2015\/july\/documents\/papa-francesco_20150709_bolivia-movimenti-popolari.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pope Francis<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_10 et_pb_divider_position_bottom et_pb_space\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_37  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_47 et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_gutters1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_73  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_74  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_slider et_pb_slider_1 three-principles et_animated et_pb_slider_fullwidth_off et_pb_slider_show_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slides\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_26 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center et-pb-active-slide\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_26\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Key-principle-icons-resized.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/catholic-social-teaching-principles\/\">Three Key Principles<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\">Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>Subsidiarity.\u00a0<em>Human Dignity<\/em><\/strong>, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles: \u201cThe State must contribute to the achievement of these goals both directly and indirectly. Indirectly and according to the<em>\u00a0principle of <strong>subsidiarity<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em>by creating favorable conditions for the free exercise of economic activity, which will lead to abundant opportunities for employment and sources of wealth. Directly and according to the\u00a0<em>principle of <strong>solidarity<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em>by defending the weakest\u201d <em><span style=\"color: #003366;\"><a class=\"alternate-link\" style=\"color: #054368;\" href=\"http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Pope St. John Paul II, 15)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_27 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_27\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/human-dignity-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\">Human Dignity<\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image. This is \u201cthe basis not only of the unity of the human family but also of our inviolable <strong>human dignity<\/strong>\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI) and it is in this beginning that human rights are grounded.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_28 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_28\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/solidarity-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\">Solidarity<\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Solidarity<\/strong> is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d <span style=\"color: #eb7425;\"><em><a class=\"alternate-link\" style=\"color: #eb7425;\" href=\"http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_enc_30121987_sollicitudo-rei-socialis.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a><\/em><\/span>. Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment. \u201cWe cannot believe in God the Father without seeing a brother or sister in every person, and we cannot follow Jesus without giving our lives for those for whom he died on the cross.\u201d<span class=\"alternate-link\" style=\"color: #eb7425;\"><em><a style=\"color: #eb7425;\" href=\"https:\/\/m.vatican.va\/content\/francesco\/en\/speeches\/2015\/july\/documents\/papa-francesco_20150708_bolivia-benvenuto.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_29 et_clickable  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_slide_with_image et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_29\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/subsidiarity-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"et_pb_slide_title\">Subsidiarity<\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Subsidiarity<\/strong> identifies how decisions in society need to be taken at the lowest competent level. \u201cIt is a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. <span class=\"alternate-link\" style=\"color: #eb7425;\"><a style=\"color: #eb7425;\" href=\"http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/pius-xi\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_p-xi_enc_19310515_quadragesimo-anno.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>(Pope Pius XI, 79)<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_75  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"newsletter\" class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_39 mosaic_width et_pb_with_background  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_48 mosaic_width et_animated et_pb_equal_columns  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_1_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_76 ds-vertical-align  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_73  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4>Sign Up For Our 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