Denver Catholic

11 DENVER CATHOLIC | JUNE 10-23, 2017 e former Father Ed Judy House has a new name and a new location. We are now part of Catholic Charities' Marisol Homes. In just 2 weeks we are moving to a new location. Building construction is complete but we still need beds and furnishings for 16 rooms before we can house and serve single expectant mothers and single women, with children, who are experiencing homelessness. If we band together, giving just $78 each, we can make the move happen. PLEASE DONATE TODAY! WHEN YOU TRANSFORM A ROOM, YOU TRANSFORM A LIFE. MARISOL SERVICES HOMES MARISOL MARISOL SERVICES SERVICES MATERNITY MARISOL SERVICES Join the Challenge at ccdenver.org/MoveIn Read about Carmen's transformation at ccdenver.org/MoveIn JOIN THE MOVEIN CHALLENGE parishioners were undocumented people. We can see that so many decades later we are in a similar situation. DC: The Hispanic community faces many challenges with regard to immigration, how do we resolve this issue? CO: We urgently need a new leg- islation to deal with immigration issues. We should have more gener- ous quotas and work visas for those who want to work in the agricultural sector so that they can be with their families. Now there are many people who are trapped and cannot go back to visit their families, or re-enter the country for the next harvest. President Bush tried with a bill that was sponsored by John McCain, a Republican, but even with that, it was not approved. Obama couldn't either. And like that, many years have passed and this has become more urgent than ever. We must solve the problems of the people and stop these deportations. More than 60 percent of undocu- mented immigrants that live here have been here for more than 10 years, and many of them have chil- dren who are US citizens. Many of them own a home. The govern- ment must have a policy that favors families and should consider the situations of many undocumented workers who have been hard workers and who have contributed a lot to the country. Talking about them as if they were all delinquents is very unfair, and the Church, which has always been an immigrant church, must raise its voice in defense of the undocumented. DC: What message can we give to those who fear being deported? CO: The hope is that there are many people who already realize the need to have more just [immigration] laws, and a pathway for people to have doc- uments. The president said that when they managed to close the border and deport the criminals, he would treat the undocumented immigrants who are here with mercy. I hope this hap- pens soon. DC: You are known for fighting in favor of the life of the unborn and the terminally ill, what challenges do you see in this country regard- ing life issues? CO: The appointment of the new Supreme Court justice [Colorado native Neil Gorsuch] gives us hope. The president promised to name someone who was pro-life and it seems that he kept that promise. Also, the new judge has written a book on physician-assisted suicide. He is a man who understands the seriousness of these ethical prob- lems. It is a very serious and very di cult challenge also because every year there are more states that submit referendums to legalize euthanasia. This is a result of the extreme individualism of the culture. We must take care of each other. Every human being at the begin- ning and at the end of his life needs someone to take care of him. It's the human condition! Cardinal O' Malley celebrates Mass at Annunciation Parish on May 28 during a visit to Denver. PHOTO BY ANYA SEMENOFF

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