Wuerl is the Cardinal of the Washington archdiocese.

Although many churches are offering their buildings as sanctuaries to immigrants hoping to avoid deportation, Wuerl says he doesn't think the churches can actually provide that security.

"When we use the word sanctuary, we have to be very careful that we're not holding out false hope. We wouldn't want to say, ‘Stay here, we'll protect you," he said.

In his view, the separation of the responsibilities of church and state make sanctuary in the traditional sense unlikely.

"With separation of church and state, the church really does not have the right to say, ‘You come in this building and the law doesn't apply to you.' But we do want to say we'll be a voice for you," he said.

Wuerl said providing food and legal representation for immigrants was among the Washington Archdiocese's top priorities.

Source

• Washington Post
• Catholic Register
• Image: ChurchMilitant

President-elect Donald Trump wants to deport all illegal immigrants, especially criminals.

If they're not deported, he says they will be incarcerated.

His election vow to deport an estimated 11 million people has seen illegal immigrants hiding from federal authorities.

Many are looking to churches to help hide them.

Churches are considered "sensitive locations" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

They avoid going to these places to arrest, search or interview people.

Churches therefore make ideal places for people to seek sanctuary.

Schools and hospitals are also viewed as "sensitive locations".

Over the past few years, 15 people have sought sanctuary. Caring for them has involved 13 churches in nine cities.

The 15 people were in imminent danger of being deported.

The Rev Donna Schaper, who is a senior minister of New York's Judson Memorial Church, says New York City has 11 congregations offering illegal immigrants refuge.

Some illegal immigrants have moved into "sanctuary churches" for indefinite periods.

She thinks the number will increase when Trump is inaugurated.

"The newly elected president is threatening to deport many of them and they want to be safe — churches have a moral mandate to help people in a way that is different than cities in general," she said.

Peter Pedemonti, executive director of the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia says there has been and "outpouring of inquiries and support" from congregations all over America that want to sign up in sanctuary sites.

Pedemonti's New Sanctuary Movement provides spiritual, financial, emotional and legal support to illegal immigrants.

His group includes 17 churches and two synagogues. They have joined together to stop deportations.

They have also offered their sanctuaries as safe havens.

The New Sanctuary Movement provides spiritual, financial, emotional and legal support to illegal immigrants.

Source

• The Christian Century
• Western Journalism
• Image: France 24

A recent Australian court decision stated the lawfulness of the offshore detention regime on Nauru.

This means 267 asylum seekers on mainland Australia could be returned there.

But 10 Anglican and Uniting churches around the country have offered sanctuary to the asylum seekers who are at risk of being returned.

The concept of church sanctuary has no basis in Australian law.

But immigration minister Peter Dutton said the government would not be "dragging people out of churches".

He said that the people's cases would be considered individually on medical advice.

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