Welcoming Refugees and Migrants: Catholic Narratives and the Challenge of Inclusion

Abstract

Faith communities play important roles in welcoming migrants into their new home societies. This article examines the history of the Roman Catholic community’s role in integrating immigrants into U.S. society, showing how the Church has created a large network of parishes, schools, healthcare facilities, and social service agencies that have helped immigrants to integrate into U.S. social life. It presents the normative stance of Catholicism concerning refugees and migrants, which stresses that respect for the dignity of persons requires enabling them to participate in a community they can call home, thus facilitating the integration of refugees and migrants. Survey data highlight some contemporary challenges to the continuing Catholic role in immigrant integration, suggesting new ways to strengthen Catholic contributions to the integration of immigrants by recalling both the Catholic community’s memory of its immigrant past and the values of its normative tradition. The article sketches several areas where further research could help to strengthen the Catholic contribution.