Nov. 21--Chicago's Archbishop Blase Cupich said this week's national debate about accepting Syrian refugees must take into account concerns about national security but also acknowledge the numerous reasons some refugees come to the U.S. -- Illinois in particular.
"We're not just talking about helping people who are desperate," said Cupich in an interview with the Tribune after this week's meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "We're also talking about reuniting families. That should be an interest to all citizens -- that we make sure we help reunite families. If you build community and family structure and give people opportunity, that's the best way to counter terrorism."
This week, Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration announced that Illinois would temporarily halt accepting Syrian refugees, echoing more than half of the nation's governors in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. In response, Chicago aldermen called on Rauner to keep the state's doors open to those fleeing the war-torn country.
While advocates question whether governors have the power to deny entry once it is approved by the federal government, states can deny help they usually provide refugees, including health care, cash assistance and job training. In Illinois, refugee services are funded through federal money that advocates say was allowed to be passed through starting in August, despite the budget impasse.
Christian, Muslim and Jewish clergy have pressed governors to reconsider the hiatus. Cupich issued a statement earlier this week that Catholic Charities would continue to resettle refugees and immigrants who had been admitted to the U.S.
He said conversations about the next steps Illinois and the U.S. take should consider measures to ensure the safety of all Americans and the refugees.
"Any serious discussion about this has to begin with acknowledging and respecting the legitimate concerns that people have for security in our nation," he said. "They can't be dismissed."
He also said those debates should respect the responsibility of law enforcement and emergency responders to safeguard national security.
"I very much appreciate the fact that our nation has been safe since 9/11," he said. "People seem to be doing their job and it's an opportunity for us to acknowledge that and thank them. Many times these people work behind the scenes and know a lot more than is publicly known."
But with 16 million refugees worldwide -- half of them children -- Cupich said the nation can not turn its back and still honor its roots.
"We are the sons and daughters of those who many times fled tyranny, poverty, conflict and war. We do have a connection with those people because of our ancestors," he said.
"Since 9/11 we have received 800,000 refugees in this country," he continued. "As far as I know, not one of them has been involved in a terrorist attack in this country. We've been enriched by that. We've been enriched in our city of Chicago by it. In our state and our country, we really are enhanced by that influx of people. We have to make sure we balance whatever we're doing by that need to be faithful to our heritage."
Cupich spoke from the Washington, D.C., area where he spent the week at a meeting of America's Catholic bishops. The prelates issued a voting guide for Catholics to use in the upcoming election and set advocacy priorities that Cupich said reflect the influence of Pope Francis. During the discussion, Cupich pressed the bishops to give equal weight to advocacy for global poverty, immigration reform and the environment as they do religious liberty.
"If we're going to advocate for things, we can't just advocate for things that have a direct impact on the life of the church," he said. "We have to advocate for things outside the life of the church."
Tribune reporter Kim Geiger contributed.
mbrachear@tribpub.com
