Bishop Rhoades says arrest of migrants in churches is a moral threat to religious freedom

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Bishop of Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Kevin Rhoades shared his thoughts on protecting the freedom of worship for migrants in this month's edition Today's Catholic. 

After there have been reports of arrests of migrants during worship services, the bishop expressed that while not being a legal threat to religious liberty, the arrests are certainly a moral one.

“Religious freedom protects the rights of persons to carry out their obligations, ensuring that individuals and communities can fulfill their most sacred duty," Rhoades said.

He expressed how he respected the government's right to enforce just immigrant laws, but that it “cannot come at the expense of human life or without respect for each person’s God-given dignity.”

“To intrude on the right to fulfill duties to God is a grave judgment that must be guided by prudence," Rhoades said.

'All Catholics and others of goodwill in our country, regardless of their ideas about the best way to enforce immigration laws, should be united in the conviction that people must be free to fulfill their duties to God without fear."