By OSV News
BALTIMORE (OSV News) — Immigration took center stage once more at the U.S. bishops’ fall plenary assembly in Baltimore. On Nov. 12, during the half day that was the second public session of the gathering, the prelates approved a “special pastoral message on immigration,” voicing “our concern here for immigrants” at their annual fall plenary assembly in Baltimore. The statement came as a growing number of bishops have acknowledged that some of the Trump administration’s immigration policies risk presenting the church with both practical challenges in administering pastoral support and charitable endeavors, as well as religious liberty challenges. In other action, the bishops elected a new secretary for their conference: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana. They also overwhelmingly approved an updated version of their guiding document on Catholic health care, with substantial revisions that include explicit prohibitions against so-called “gender-affirming” care.
Look for more information on the U.S. bishops’ “special pastoral message on immigration” in a future issue of The Message.