Archbishop Gustavo Garc\u00eda-Siller spoke candidly about his childhood under a repressive regime and how he will meet immigrants\u2019 spiritual and physical needs.<\/p>\n
San Antonio\u2019s Archbishop Gustavo Garc\u00eda-Siller spoke with EWTN News recently about a variety of topics: experiencing the persecution of the Church during his childhood in Mexico, his thoughts on recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) measures in his archdiocese and whether he will issue a Mass dispensation to those afraid of immigration enforcement, and his recent appointment of a new president and CEO of Catholic Charities.<\/p>\n
The archbishop said that unlike some of his brother bishops throughout the country<\/a>, he will not be giving a dispensation from attending Mass<\/a> to those who fear deportation.<\/p>\n \u201cTo tell people not to come to the sacramental life of the Church, and the community? No, I would not,\u201d he said, expressing his hope that ICE officials will focus their energy on violent criminals and leave alone immigrants, many of whom \u201cwere in the process legally\u201d and who are \u201chardworking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe in a country of laws, and of order, and I will not lose my hope that it will come to its senses in the midst of this persecution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI am so surprised we haven\u2019t learned\u201d from history, he said, and \u201chow eventually all those systems fall. We\u2019re such a great nation, yet we have not learned the consequences of the suffering of innocent people.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead of dispensing the Mass obligation, the prelate said he wants to \u201creach out to those who are hidden. That\u2019s our work. We will go and find them in their homes, bring catechists and Communion to their homes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In addition to addressing their spiritual needs, \u201cif they need food, clothing, medication, services the government isn\u2019t giving to them; because they are human beings, we will do all that we can \u2026 for the elderly, those without insurance, we are going to do something, in limited ways. It would be helpful if the government was helping, but if they don\u2019t, we\u2019ll find other ways.\u201d<\/p>\n He lamented that the administration has halted legal immigration programs such as temporary protected status (TPS)<\/a>, effectively creating illegal immigrants of people who were \u201cin the process legally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not acceptable. We have to be the voice of the voiceless. We don\u2019t have to enter into the cycle of fear that has been created because of the present system. We have to be free because Jesus set us free.\u201d<\/p>\n Archbishop Garc\u00eda-Siller said he understands the United States\u2019 obligation to protect its borders and remove \u201ctruly proved\u201d criminals because \u201cno one wants to live with a criminal next door.\u201d<\/p>\n However, he said, \u201cwhat\u2019s been happening is so horrible. I\u2019ve seen it in other tyrannical systems.\u201d<\/p>\n