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Christopher Hale's avatar

Thank you for sharing! I want to do a piece later this month about how the bishops are taking way more action during Trump’s second than Trump’s first term. My one sentence theory is that twelve years of Pope Francis appointing US bishops changed the nature of episcopacy here.

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Leslie Read's avatar

“By granting a private audience to Gomez and Vann outside the normal schedule, he signaled that he intends to confront the deportation apparatus and support bishops who are defending their flock.”

~Thank God…and thank Pope Leo…🙏🌷❤️

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Christopher Hale's avatar

Thank you for reading, Leslie!

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Meg Grant's avatar

Let us pray 🙏🏼

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Sue Dalling's avatar

They should be doing this, this is their job.

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Christopher Hale's avatar

I absolutely agree. It's a moral imperative to stand up to this travesty. Thank you for reading, Sue!

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Philip's avatar

“Come to me ALL who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest”

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Christopher Hale's avatar

God leaves no one behind. Thank you for reading, Philip

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Joan Kim Horwitz's avatar

I live in Delaware and have items to donate for those who are fearful of being abducted-that’s the only word suitable to describe what’s happening in this country right now. I don’t have deep monetary resources but am compelled to do something as we all should at times like these.

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Christopher Hale's avatar

That's wonderful of you, Joan. You're keeping the faith. Thank you so much for reading! It means the world to me.

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Maria's avatar

Thank you for doing this article as a Roman Catholic. We are heavily criticized for so many different things.. . But also the first ones that step up to when there’s a crisis in our community within our brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Christopher Hale's avatar

Thank you for reading, Maria! It means the world to me

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Carol Stanton (FL)'s avatar

"It also sends a signal to Catholics everywhere: this is not a parochial dispute, but a moral test for the universal Church."

Absolutely right! But this is a no- brainer in the light of the Gospel, Catholic social teaching and any secular proclamations of human rights we may have made in the past 100 years. My take is that, in the U.S., Bishop Mark Seitz and Sr Norma Pimentel were pretty much alone for a long time in their efforts to fight for people in their border diocese. Where were his brother Bishops then? (Possibly just getting out of bed with their partisan politics decisions.) So it has been good to see them slowly rise to the " moral test"-- even Archbishop Tom Wenski ( Miami) and his Knights of Columbus motorcycle " gang" protesting at Alligator Alcatraz-- a place of shame and scandal for all of us in Florida!

The universal Church has not exactly aced our "moral tests" in recent years when it came to protecting it's own vulnerable members from abuse by clergy. Slowly, slowly it has admitted the systemic issue but victims are still suffering and ( incredibly) abuse is still happening.

I do not envy Pope Leo's challenge as his role calls him to respond on so many levels at once. Adoring, " da Pope" crowds are great but the real work must seem overwhelming at times!! I pray for him every night,

Thanks, Christopher!

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Steve O’Cally's avatar

🙏 Praying show honor to God. 🤲 Working hands are the Hands of Jesus.

“Tend my sheep.”

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Christopher Hale's avatar

Like Jesus, Pope Leo is certainly the good shepherd. Thank you for reading, Steve!

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Donald J Frickel's avatar

Like your reporting. I do think the title of your post “Letters from Leo” is a bit misleading. Why not try “Letters of Leo?”

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Christopher Hale's avatar

It’s something I’m thinking about! We’re only a month old, so we’re just building it out. Thank you for reading!

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RJ O’Connor's avatar

There is something we can all do. Donate to the Family Assistance Program. It’s very easy to do. It’s a program “that delivers hot meals, groceries, and prescriptions, stressing that those targeted are ‘good, hardworking men and women.’ The fund provides direct support for families suffering financial hardship and relies on parish networks that know their people’s needs.”

https://lacatholics.org/immigrant-support/

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Christopher Hale's avatar

Thank you for sharing, RJ! And thank you for reading. It means the world to me.

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RJ O’Connor's avatar

You’re welcome. I enjoy reading your posts. Pope Leo seems to be an extraordinary man of leadership and it’s good to know what he’s saying and doing.

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Meg Grant's avatar

Bishop Kicanas in the Diocese Of Tucson was very active for many years before he retired now he is filling in the Diocese Of Tucson! We appreciate everything he can do for the poor people that are being kidnapped! Mary, undoer of knots, pray for us! JMJ pray for us! 🙏🏼

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Christopher Hale's avatar

Thank you for reading, Meg! I love Mary, Untier of Knots. It was Pope Francis's favorite title for her.

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Abigail's avatar

I am so happy that these U.S. Bishops are taking action. It has been heartbreaking to see so many Christians embrace prosperity gospel and/or djt. they no longer care about loving their neighbors, welcoming strangers, feeding the hungry, or clothing the poor. The foundation of Christian faith is to love one another. God is love. Love never fails.

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news2lose's avatar

Replace “immigrant families” with “parishioners”.

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Steve O’Cally's avatar

The simplest messages of the Gospels lead my faith more than the more esoteric letters of Paul.

My faith derives from the commands of action, which is understood by some Christians as “works,” and is often miscast as some sort of bargain.

Often, the petition to God for external help is best served by action in imitation of Jesus. Metaphysical understanding of God’s nature is hard to understand. Feeding sheep isn’t.

I suspect that the Pope carries on such a duty. Good guy, that Leo.

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