Unwarranted Raid and Mass Detentions contradict Biblical Teachings and American Values, assert Kansas Bishops
Kansas Catholic Bishops Issue Joint Pastoral Letter on Immigration
Three Catholic bishops in Kansas have issued a joint pastoral letter on immigration, urging for just and merciful policies and emphasizing the importance of human dignity. The letter, signed by Archbishop W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop Carl A. Kemme, and Bishop Gerald L. Vincke, was released on August 19, 2025, and is available in both English and Spanish on the diocesan websites of Kansas City, Wichita, and Salina.
The pastoral letter, addressed to the people of God in Kansas and all people of good will, focuses on immigration and its implications for the treatment of migrants. The bishops remind their readers of Matthew 25:40, which states, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." They emphasize that serving the poor, the alien, and the outcast is serving Christ.
In the letter, the bishops urge public officials to use existing legal discretion to treat undocumented migrants humanely. They speak against unnecessary raids, mass detentions, and family separations, warning that such actions make one less merciful, less just, and less human. They also support the role of law enforcement in protecting public safety.
The bishops call on the faithful to remember the dignity of every person, especially those fleeing hardship. They encourage the building of welcoming parishes and the encountering of immigrants as neighbors. The bishops also state that working migrants, volunteers in parishes, taxpayers, and those following the law deserve protection, solidarity, and a welcoming community.
The bishops reference the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2241), which affirms that nations must welcome those seeking security, especially when their home countries cannot provide it. They also emphasize the importance of not degrading human dignity by viewing others as mere problems to be solved.
At the time of writing, there is no available information regarding which Catholic bishops in Kansas authored or did not participate in a pastoral declaration on migration dated August 14, 2025. The English and Spanish text of the Kansas bishops' pastoral letter on immigration is available online for all to read and reflect upon.
