US cardinal: Mass deportations incompatible with church doctrine

The new Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Robert McElroy, warns that possible plans for mass deportations are incompatible with Catholic teaching. Although the Catholic Church teaches that a country has the right to control its borders, one must have "a sense of the dignity of every human being", the cardinal told the internet portal "Crux" (Wednesday).

McElroy was appointed by Pope Francis on Monday as the new head of the archdiocese in the US capital as the previous Bishop of San Diego. The 70-year-old is one of Francis' allies and is calling for space for sexual minorities and migrants. He already criticised Donald Trump for his government policy during his first term in office.

Prayer for the new government

Aside from concerns about immigration plans, it is currently necessary to wait and see what emerges in the government, said McElroy. He therefore called on all Catholics to pray for the re-elected president and officials across the country. "I pray that President Trump's administration and all legislators and governors at the state and local level across the country will work together to truly make our country better," the cardinal said.

As for the archdiocese of the American capital, the cardinal acknowledged that there had been failures there regarding sexual abuse by clergy. He described this as a "massive betrayal" that would result in a moral and financial reckoning. McElroy also emphasised the need for a culture of encounter, as called for by the Pope. He is therefore planning a meeting with the priests and employees of the archdiocese in the first few weeks after the handover of office. The Mass for McElroy's inauguration is to take place on 11 March in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. (KNA)