In response to a surge in arrests and apprehensions of undocumented immigrants, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has announced an initiative aimed at providing essential services to those living in fear of deportation.
The archdiocese’s Family Assistance Program is donation-funded and designed to assist its approximately four million congregants across its 288 parishes located in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.
Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez underscored the significance of this initiative, stating that immigrants targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids are often “good, hard-working men and women” who contribute significantly to the economy.
He noted the fear among these individuals, emphasizing that they are now afraid to attend work or be seen in public due to potential arrest and deportation.
The program seeks to channel contributions directly to parishes serving vulnerable families.
Donations can be made online or at local churches, with assurances from Catherine Fraser, the archdiocese’s chief development officer, that every dollar contributed will go straight to families in need.
Churches within the archdiocese are already equipped with programs developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to aid elderly and homebound congregants.
Yannina Diaz, a spokesperson for the archdiocese, mentioned that existing programs will be leveraged to maximize the effectiveness of the Family Assistance Program.
For instance, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in South Los Angeles has an established program that delivers food, clothing, and medication to homebound individuals.
Msgr. Timothy Dyer, the pastor of St. Patrick’s, contributed to the creation of the Family Assistance Program.
Another noteworthy initiative is the SHARE program, founded by volunteer Azalie Nickleberry at St. Agatha Catholic Church.
Originally launched in 1980 to provide hot meals on Christmas Day, SHARE now provides food assistance to around 2,000 individuals annually, with recent figures showing a significant increase in grocery bag distributions from 80 to 150 in July alone.
Nickleberry expressed gratitude for the help, stating, “There’s a real need for this service, and we’re happy for the help.”
Since early June, about 2,800 undocumented immigrants have been arrested in Los Angeles due to ICE’s widespread enforcement activities.
Alarmingly, these arrests include many individuals with no criminal records.
In addition, there have been reports of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants being detained amidst the crackdown.
Within the Greater Los Angeles Catholic community, a significant portion consists of immigrants or individuals with immigrant relatives, making the archdiocese particularly sensitive to the repercussions of the raids.
According to research from the Pew Research Center, approximately 58% of individuals born abroad in the United States identify as Christians, with 30% identifying specifically as Catholics—the highest percentage among any denomination.
In Los Angeles, Catholics represent 28% of the Christian population, the highest percentage of any religious group in the region.
Gomez’s announcement coincided with a move by Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino, who allowed parishioners fearful of deportation to miss Mass without penalty.
Rojas’ decision was in direct response to several arrests taking place on church property, although the Department of Homeland Security contended that churches were not actively targeted.
Diaz, however, indicated that she was unaware of any arrests occurring on Archdiocese of Los Angeles property and stated that Archbishop Gomez had not yet considered issuing a similar dispensation for its congregants.
She also remarked on the uncertain status of Eucharistic Communion being provided to those too afraid to leave their homes, although assurances were made that it would be offered upon request.
In an open letter, Gomez expressed his deep concern over the detentions, calling for a reformation of the immigration process.
The Family Assistance Program has already garnered financial support from various donors.
Notably, businessman Rick Caruso pledged $50,000 and offered to match additional contributions up to $50,000.
Caruso stated, “We need to help these families, and, working with the archdiocese, we can provide much-needed relief at a time when many are struggling to get by.”
In addition, the Catholic Association for Latino Leadership contributed $10,000 and Vallarta Supermarkets donated an equivalent amount in gift cards.
The Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company also made a donation of an undisclosed amount along with stuffed animals aimed at comforting children affected by the raids.
image source from：latimes
