Chicago Archdiocese holds 'Posada' on immigration reform

(Vatican Radio)  The Archdiocese of Chicago hosted the 10th Annual 'Posada for Immigration Reform' conference on Friday (Dec. 18) to reflect on the need of immigration reform in the United States in light of the Holy Family's search for a place of refugee.

The 'Posada', Spanish for 'lodging' or 'accomodation', is an event in which people are invited 'to walk and pray in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters, who - as the Holy Family sought a place to stay - are seeking legislative shelter'.

Two Auxiliary Bishops from the Archdiocese of Chicago, Bishops John R. Manz and Alberto Rojas, took part in the event.

Listen to the full interviews:

Bishop John R. Manz

Bishop Manz explains that the 'Posada' custom originates in Mexico as a way of reliving and remembering when Joseph and Mary were seeking shelter in Bethlehem so Mary could give birth to Jesus, yet being rejected and ending up staying in a stable. "We see that happening today with many of the immigrants that come and are being rejected. Even though they are not criminals, they are being treated as criminals."

"We can talk about the 11 million that are already here", he said, "that are contributing to our society and are doing nothing wrong. But there is, sadly, more and more a feeling of xenophobia in our country against anybody from outside, of fear."

Explaining the reason for the annual 'Posada' event, Bishop Manz said, "One of the reasons we do this is to call attention to the fact that we need an immigration reform of a system that's broke."

Most of those 11 million undocumented migrants pay taxes and contribute to society, but are uneligible to receive health care or societal benefits; for this reason, he said, "We see it from a moral point of view but also an economic point of view, so it only makes sense to realize who they are in our midst and to not incarcerate people for something like this."

The event, Bishop Manz concluded, is "to connect to the age-old tradition of Mary and Joseph, saying we face many of the same problems now. Many people in need are looking for a place where they can be accepted."

Bishop Alberto Rojas

Bishop Alberto Rojas was also at the Posada event and pointed out that another reason for the event was to "pray for respect, respect for human dignity, and respect for families."

Turning to concrete effects of the immigration system in the United States, Bishop Rojas said, "Many families have been destroyed because of deportations. These deportations take place almost every single day, and it happens early in the morning, 4 or 5 am. Parents of children who are born in the United States are being brought to detention centers and put into buses, taken to the airport, and deported out of the country."

Bishop Rojas went on to say "I think people who have been in this country for over 20 years, working, deserve, for justice and compassion, to be residents of this country. They have done nothing else but just not having documents, as they say. But they have been working and paying taxes like everybody else."