Positions on Social Issues

Racism, Refugees/Immigration, Replacement Workers

<Back to Positions index

 

Racism

In 1991 Convention called for a Racism Audit and reaffirmed that hiring and funding practices "should reflect the cultural diversity and richness of God's creative hand."

In 1992 Convention addressed what it called "Environmental Racism" and called on City officials to stop the operation of a Bronx medical waste facility that had been constructed without community involvement or approval.

Convention (1999) expressed its belief that "racial profiling" by the police department is an example of insitutional racism, and called for reform of such practices. (See also Police Violence, Hate Crimes.)

 

Refugees; Immigration

Convention in 1981 "strongly" urged the President to declare amnesty for all undocumented people (illegal aliens) living in the United States. It also urged the President and Congress "to revise the rules and laws governing the granting of refugee status so that people fleeing countries like Haiti will be treated like refugees instead of criminals." In 1974, Convention urged that political refugee status be granted to 400 Haitians then being detained in Florida and facing possible deportation. Convention urged parish support and sponsorship of resettlement of Indochinese refugees (1979) and Haitian refugees (1980). A 1960 Convention resolution supported immigration laws free of "injustices and racial and ethnic discrimination."

 

Replacement Workers

The 1995 and 1998 Conventions opposed the hiring of replacements for striking workers.

 

Same-sex Civil Marriage> 

See Also: