Marchers call for reform
Catholics join thousands demonstrating for legislation

By J.D. Long-García, The Catholic Sun
May 17, 2007

Tens of thousands called for comprehensive immigration reform May 1 in cities throughout the country, but in far fewer numbers than last year’s marches.

An estimated 15,000 people marched through the streets of downtown Phoenix, hoisting American flags and signs that read, “No Human being is illegal” and “We are the Body of Christ.” The number was down from the more than 100,000 that rallied last year.

Demonstrators again pled for legalization of illegal immigrants residing in the country and for more legal ways to enter the country.

“The organizers achieved their goal,” said Jose Robles, director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry. “They are truly supporting immigration reform and are working hard to convince Congress to do the right thing.”

Robles said that “a majority of the undocumented marchers were Catholic,” but said other denominations were involved in the planning process. 

A Catholic presence

“It’s important for us because we are one body, one people in God,” said Asención Murga, a parishioner at St. Mary in Chandler. “As part of the Church, I believe we have to support everybody.”

Murga stood near Fr. Jorge Gonzalez, associate pastor at St. Mary Parish, during the rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum before demonstrators marched to the state Capitol. The band Universal Knowledge performed “This is a Call for Unity” at the rally.

Fr. Gonzalez said he was there to “support the Hispanics that are in this country, to support their legalization.”

“They’re here because they’re offered work. If you don’t want them to come, then you shouldn’t offer them work,” he said.

Fr. Gonzalez said priests and parishioners should be more welcoming to immigrants.

“We are one family in Christ. All of us can learn from each other,” he said, adding that unwelcoming communities can chase immigrants into nondenominational churches.

Some came with messages unrelated to immigration. One protestor’s sign called for the president’s impeachment and another made reference to the war in Iraq. Nearby, ice cream vendors pedaled refreshments.

John Vasques, a salesman at a used car dealership on Grand Avenue, stood on the sidewalk outside his place of work.

“I support their cause. It doesn’t affect us at all,” he said of the march. “It’s actually good for business. They see the area and maybe they’ll come back.”

Thirteen-year-olds Enrique Peña and David Galvan, parishioners at St. Matthew, carried an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“It’s going to help us have no more deaths on the border,” Peña said of immigration reform.

Right outside the McDonald’s on Van Buren and Grand, Fran Garrett stood to counter the protest.

“They don’t need to be here,” she said of illegal immigrants. “They’re here illegally. They don’t even belong here and they get credit cards.”

Garrett held a sign that read, “They are not here to pick lettuce or mow your grass! Wake up America!” She said she took off from work to oppose the march.

“As long as they’re marching, they might as well march right on down to Mexico,” she said. “They want us to become Mexico.”

Barstow Bailey, a parishioner at St. Joseph, wore an Our Lady of Guadalupe shirt to the rally and held a sign quoting Exodus, “You were once immigrants in the land of Egypt.”

“We need all of these immigrants to have amnesty and have a vote,” he said. “It’s about tolerance and acceptance. That’s the Christian way.”

The crowd chanted, “Sí se puede” — “Yes, it can be done.”

“That’s the sound of it,” Bailey said. “With Jesus, we can do this.”

Fr. Loren Riebe, who runs an education program in Chiapas, Mexico, also joined the demonstrators.

“None of our kids who get an education feel the need to come north,” he said of the students in Chiapas. “With an education, they can stay home with their families and have a life of human dignity.”

He said one in four children in Chiapas make it as far as fourth grade.

“The other 75 percent either don’t attend school or drop out due to health problems or to help their parents in the fields. There is a lack of schools and teachers,” Fr. Riebe said.

“It’s impossible to survive anywhere for $2.50 a day. Things are so desperate now it’s becoming a massive issue,” he added.

Fr. Riebe encouraged Catholics to “support the voice of the people and join the United States bishops in their efforts toward comprehensive immigration reform.”

Church teaches on migration

In 2004, the U.S. bishops began uniting groups in support of a legalization program and comprehensive immigration reform. Through the campaign, called Justice for Immigrants, the U.S. bishops educate the public about Church teaching on immigration issues.

The bishops stress family unification, more legal ways for immigrants to come to the United States to work and abandoning the “blockade” enforcement strategy on the border.

In December 2005, the Arizona bishops released “You Welcomed Me,” a pastoral letter on migration that called Catholics to pray for reform, make parishes more welcoming and support efforts to reduce poverty in Mexico.

“We believe that Arizona can lead our country toward a solution to this crisis,” the Arizona bishops wrote.

“We can build on our common ground and our shared values as Catholics to develop, along with others in our community, a solution that protects the dignity of the migrants among us, strengthens our communities, makes us safer as a nation and builds on the great immigrant heritage of our country,” they wrote.

More work ahead

Yet some Catholics at the march felt the Church hasn’t done enough.

“We’re missing the Church’s presence in the community,” said Guadalupe Bocanegra, a St. Mary’s parishioner. “We’re losing a lot of Catholics because the Church isn’t here.”

She said pastors from other churches are more vocal on the immigration issue.

“We’re not asking for anything political, but we do need support for social justice,” she said. “When our pastors aren’t here, we don’t feel supported.”

At the rally in front of the Capitol, Jennifer Arroyo, a parishioner at St. Augustine, confronted Mimi, who demonstrated against the march and identified herself simply as an American citizen.

“My parents are illegal and I don’t want them to take them away,” Arroyo said, explaining why she joined the march.

More words were exchanged between the marchers and the counter-protestors on the north side of the Capitol building.

“Your hate will not win,” a person from the crowd of marchers told a group of counter-protestors.

Jim Edgemon, who identified himself as a concerned citizen, was in that group.

“My argument against this whole thing is ‘what part of illegal don’t you understand?’” he said. “All we’re asking is that they do it right, that they do it legally.”

Terry Hartley, a “concerned Minuteman,” stood near Edgemon.

“It’s a shame that these people think they have an absolute right to break our laws,” he said. “They have a problem in Mexico, they need to go home and fix it.”

Despite disagreements, the march was peaceful. According to the Phoenix Police Department, there were no arrests.

Joyce Coronel contributed to this story.