States it is not 'resettlement agency.'
Kathryn Buckley-Brawner, executive director of the Catholic Charities Agency of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, has released, through the diocese's Catholic Communications office, a statement in response to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno's letter to the U.S. State Department. Sarno is asking that requests from relief agencies to resettle refugees in the city be denied because of housing, educational and crime concerns.
“On behalf of Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell, the Diocese of Springfield and our Catholic Charities Agency (CCA), I would like to address Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno’s recent request to the federal government to end refugee resettlement in this city.
“First, in comments to local news media the mayor stated that Catholic Charities was in the process of placing 156 adult refugees. The mayor has been gravely misinformed.
Catholic Charities is not a refugee resettlement agency and does not engage in resettlement efforts. We do provide, as we do for the general community in need, assistance in meeting everyday expenses and immigration services for those wishing to apply for citizenship.
Based on this critical misstatement, we are concerned that Mayor Sarno may have been provided with erroneous and incomplete information on other parts of his statement.
While we applaud his genuine concern for the well-being of these refugees, many who are escaping life-threatening and extremely dangerous situations of civil wars and mass executions, it is important that these refugees not be re-victimized and punished for the actions of unscrupulous local landlords and criminals, who pose a threat to all the most vulnerable in Springfield.
Our country has a long and rich tradition of welcoming people of all races, nationalities and languages to our shores. Western Massachusetts is far richer for this great tradition, one that the Catholic Church fully supports.
We encourage those involved, including Mayor Sarno, to meet and address the legitimate concerns raised so that our community does not adopt a reputation of being unwelcoming to those most in need.”
