We, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, an international congregation of Catholic religious women serving vulnerable people on four continents, are deeply disturbed by United States President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders on immigration and refugee resettlement. Our Congregation’s core value of compassion “compels us to stand with and embrace others in their suffering, that together we may experience God’s liberating and healing presence.” We stand in solidarity with other people of faith who seek to live the biblical mandate of Welcoming the Stranger.
“When the alien/stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress them. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien/stranger as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 19:33
We respectfully ask President Trump to rescind these executive orders which denigrate the values on which the United States and so many other countries of our world were founded. We believe that implementing a living culture of peace and nonviolence is the only path to “greatness.”
Sister M. Veronique (Wiedower), CSC President, Sisters of the Holy Cross
January 31, 2017
