The diverse Catholic community in Washington is one-third Hispanic, largely people from Central America, McElroy said, adding that he is looking forward to visiting parishes and getting to know the priests and the people.
The Trump administration order giving immigration agents more leeway to make arrests at churches is a “wider cultural attack on all those who are undocumented,” many of whom are fleeing persecution, violence or terrible economic conditions, McElroy said.
The removal of immunity for houses of worship from immigration enforcement is particularly problematic, and a “deep moral question,” he said, evoking the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Trump administration's crackdown.
The church's role is not to solve political or policy issues, but it does have “a moral role to comment on policies and directions in society in light of the Gospel and Catholic teaching," he said.
Speaking at a news conference at the Diocese of San Diego, where he has served as bishop for over a decade, McElroy acknowledged that he will head the Catholic Church in the nation's capital as the country grapples with what it means to be a compassionate society.
