Cardinal Francis George speaks about the need for immigration reform during an interfaith prayer forum at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, in Chicago. George calls issue 'matter of conscience' Hundreds of people listen to Cardinal Francis George speak about the need for immigration reform during an interfaith prayer forum at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, in Chicago. U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez, center, receives applause from hundreds of people supporting his efforts on federal immigration reform during an interfaith prayer forum at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Chicago. Gutierrez is surrounded by his daughters, Onaira Figueroa, left, and Jessica Gutierrez, and his grandson Luis Figueroa, 5, sitting on the lap of his dad, Ecliserio Figueroa. Pope Silent on Killing Jews as Bishop Silent on Arpaio Raids. Bishop should Resign   Bishop Olmsted and the Silence of the Lambs

Cardinal Francis George Tells President Barack Obama: End Immigration Raids

CHICAGO (By Jon Garrido, The Jon Garrido News Network and AP) March 22, 2009 — The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Saturday called on the White House to end immigration raids that split up families.

"I stand with other faith leaders and all of you gathered here today and with every immigrant family in this nation to call on our government to end immigration raids and the separation of families. Such reform would be a clear sign this administration is truly about change," Cardinal Francis George said before several hundred people at an immigrants-rights rally inside Our Lady of Mercy Church in Albany Park, a northwest Chicago church.

"To separate families, wives from husbands, children from parents, is to diminish what God has joined," said George, who is archbishop of Chicago.

The prayer forum, organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago and several religious and immigrant rights groups, took place amid a renewed national push for federal Immigration reforms.

A diverse gathering of hundreds interrupted his remarks with cheering and clapping.

George said to end Immigration raids across the country and pushed for passage this year of "comprehensive Immigration reform" that is "fair and compassionate." George added, "The Obama administration can fulfill its promises of change by working toward immigration reform."

George said the Catholic church doesn't approve of people breaking the law, but it believes everyone deserves respect. He said stopping raids would show the administration's sincerity to voters in the immigrant community.

The rally was one in a 17-city series of meetings organized by advocates of changes to U.S. immigration policy, including U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.

Raids are part of stepped-up federal enforcement targeting undocumented immigrants. While immigrant rights advocates claim the military-style tactic with armed officers are inhumane, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement have defended them as an effective way of enforcing laws.

Last week, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus met with President Barack Obama and left hopeful Obama would tackle the issue this year. But the president did not say he would order a moratorium on enforcement measures that have separated thousands of families in recent years, according to U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who attended the Obama meeting and the Saturday prayer forum.

With concerns over the economy taking precedence in Washington, efforts to re-ignite the contentious debate over Immigration reform in Congress have been met with resistance.

George sought to cast the issue in moral terms, calling it "a matter of conscience" and an important step to creating a more peaceful society.

"We cannot strengthen families when people live in fear from day to day," he said.

Elizabeth Rodriguez, 18, said she recently graduated from high school and was accepted on a full scholarship to Stanford University, but cannot attend because she does not have a Social Security number. She and her family have been waiting 11 years since arriving from Mexico to become legal residents, she said.

"The university won't wait for me because there are other students in line," said Rodriguez, who attends a local community college. "This is going on with millions of students."

She sat in the pew listening to George, who talked about the devastation raids have had on families while noting that a culture of hate has festered in the absence of better border enforcement.

"May this be the year raids and separation of families stop," George said. "May this be the year our legislators pass comprehensive Immigration reform."

Jon Garrido thinks, "Cardinal Francis George is a bold shepherd for his flock in Chicago as Jesus requires of all shepherds who serve Him as written in John Chapter 21."