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Arizona Bishops oppose Arizona Proposition 314 on immigration.As Catholic Bishops of Arizona, we express our frustration about the current situation at the US-Mexico border. The lack of a federal solution to challenges faced by both vulnerable asylum seekers and American communities is sorely needed and long overdue.
The states and local communities along the border shoulder much of the challenges created by the federal government’s neglect. Its failure to address increased migration in a pragmatic and humane way has led to an ineffective response at the border and an unacceptable number of migrant deaths.
We do not question the good intentions of those seeking to address these challenges. Nonetheless, we believe that Proposition 314 will have unanticipated consequences, and that it is not the right solution.
Although proponents argue that Proposition 314 is about border security, the reality is that its passage will create real fear within Arizona communities that will have harmful consequences. In particular, by having state and local law enforcement responsible for enforcing what should be the role of federal immigration authorities, many crime victims and witnesses will be afraid to go to law enforcement and report crimes. As a result, dangerous criminals will not be apprehended, and public safety will be threatened.
Additionally, immigration by its nature is a national issue and the regulation of immigration extends beyond the purview of individual states, points consistently affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Rather than holding the federal government accountable, Proposition 314 will only create further disorder and confusion, placing unworkable and unrealistic expectations on state judicial officers and law enforcement personnel.
The federal government needs to do a much better job of managing our national border and providing comprehensive immigration reform. Proposition 314, however, is unlikely to survive legal challenges and is not the right solution to these problems.Most Rev. John P. DolanBishop of PhoenixMost Rev. Eduardo NevaresAuxiliary Bishop of PhoenixMost Rev. Edward J. WeisenburgerBishop of TucsonMost Rev. James S. WallBishop of Gallup
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arizona bishops oppose arizona proposition 139 on abortion.
As Catholic Bishops of Arizona we want to express our strong opposition to Proposition 139.
If passed, this initiative threatens to enshrine a constitutional right to virtually unrestricted abortion in Arizona. What makes a constitutional amendment especially grave is that our own Arizona legislators could lose the ability to regulate abortion in any meaningful way, leaving us with the potential for what would likely become nearly unrestricted abortion.
Arizona law currently allows for abortions up until 15 weeks of pregnancy. Proposition 139, however, would go far beyond even this current law.
The proposed amendment, among other things, would likely remove most safeguards for girls and women that are currently in place at abortion clinics, permit a minor to obtain an abortion without parental involvement or permission, and allow for painful late-term abortions of viable pre-born children.
While this ballot measure claims to be moderate in nature, its vague language would make Arizona one of the most extreme states in terms of abortion. We believe that even many of those who support abortion in limited instances would find this proposed constitutional amendment extreme and misleading.
Arizonans deserve far better than the measures being proposed in this initiative which is why we strongly oppose Proposition 139.
Most Rev. John P. Dolan Bishop of PhoenixMost Rev. Edward J. Weisenburger
Bishop of Tucson
Most Rev. Eduardo Nevares Auxiliary Bishop of PhoenixMost Rev. James S. Wall
Bishop of Gallup
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