The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Savannah
Vol. 97, No. 19 Thursday, September 14, 2017 Put Faith in Your Opinions
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Statement Of
Bishop Gregory J.
Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Regarding
DACA Decision
Declaracion de
Obispo Gregory J.
Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Respecto a la Decision
DACA
September 6, 2017
join Archbishop Wilton Gregory
of the Catholic Archdiocese of
Atlanta in expressing deep disap
pointment in the Administration’s
decision to rescind the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals
Program (DACA). In 2012, in the
absence of Congressional action
to provide relief to about 800,000
young people who were brought
into the United States as infants or
children by their parents without
authorization, the Department of
Homeland Security announced that
those who entered the United States
as children and met certain require
ments could register with the gov
ernment, enabling them to obtain a
drivers license and work permit.
The recipients of DACA have
grown up in our educational system,
are proud members of our society
and possess countless gifts and tal
ents which greatly enrich our coun
try. In my ministry I have encoun
tered numerous DACA recipients
who are already making a positive
contribution in our local commu
nities and parishes. The recipients
of DACA consider themselves
American, speak English and feel at
home in the United States. An indi
vidualized assessment has already
been done by our government on
each of these recipients, and they
have been found to be contributing
members of society.
My hope now is that Congress
acts swiftly and effectively to pro
vide a sensible solution that will be
beneficial to these young men and
women. I feel it will be in our best
interest for Congress to respond in
a manner that does not interrupt the
education, employment and dreams
of these young people.
To DACA youth and your fami
lies, I understand the fear and anxi
ety you face, and I value your God-
given gifts and your commitment to
your families. Be assured that the
Catholic Church in South Georgia
will continue to care for you with
generosity and compassion through
our parishes, Catholic Charities,
and all those who provide pastoral
care to our faithful.
+Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of
Savannah
6 Septiembre, 2017
e uno al arzobispo Wilton
Gregory de la Arquidiocesis
Catolica de Atlanta al expresar
profunda deception por la decision
del gobiemo de rescindir el Programa
de Accion Diferida para los Llegados
en la Infancia (DACA). En 2012, a
falta de una accion del Congreso para
brindar asistencia a cerca de 800.000
jovenes que fueron traidos a los
Estados Unidos como infantes o ninos
por sus padres sin autorizacion, el
Departamento de Seguridad Nacional
anuncio que aquellos que ingresaron
a los Estados Unidos de ninos, y que
cumplian ciertos requisitos, podian
registrarse en el gobiemo, lo que les
permitiria obtener una licencia de
conducir y un permiso de trabajo.
Los beneficiarios de DACA han
crecido en nuestro sistema educativo,
son miembros orgullosos de nuestra
sociedad y poseen innumerables dones
y talentos que enriquecen mucho
nuestro pais. Durante mi ministerio
he conocido numerosos beneficiarios
de DACA que ya estan brindando
una contribution positiva en nuestras
comunidades locales y parroquias. Los
destinatarios de DACA se consideran
norteamericanos, hablan ingles y se
sienten en casa en los Estados Unidos.
Ya nuestro gobiemo ha llevado a
cabo una evaluation individualizada
de cada uno de estos receptores, y se
ha encontrado que son miembros que
contribuyen a la sociedad.
Mi esperanza ahora es que el
Congreso actue rapida y eficazmente
para proporcionar una solution
sensata que sea beneficiosa para estos
jovenes. Creo que nuestro mejor
interes sera que el Congreso responda
de una manera que no interrumpa la
education, empleo y los suenos de
estos jovenes.
A los jovenes receptores de DACA y
a sus familias, manifiesto que entiendo
el miedo y la ansiedad que enffentan,
y valoro los dones que Dios les ha
dado, asi como el compromiso que
tienen con sus familias. Tengan la
seguridad de que la Iglesia Catolica en
el Sur de Georgia seguira apoyandolos
con generosidad y compasion a traves
de nuestras parroquias, entidades
beneficas y todos aquellos que brindan
apoyo pastoral a nuestros fieles.
+Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Obispo de la Diocesis Catolica de
Savannah
Editors note: Following Governor Nathan Deal's mandatory
evacuation order the offices of Catholic Pastoral Center in
Savannah closed at noon on September 8. As a result this
issue of the Southern Cross was delivered to our printer
on Friday September 8. We will resume publication with
the September 28 issue. In the interest of reporting on the
recovery efforts following Hurricane Irma, please email
photographs and stories to editor@diosav.org
Left, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals supporters demonstrate near
the White House in Washington Sept. 5. Attorney General Jeff Sessions
announced Sept. 5 that the DACA program is "being rescinded" by President
Donald Trump, leaving some 800,000 youth, brought illegally to the U.S. as
minors, in peril of deportation and of losing permits that allow them to work.
(CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters)
