Message from Bishop John
December 2025
Reflections on Immigration
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Millions of people around the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes. According to United Nations statistics, this year, the number of people worldwide who have been forcibly displaced has exceeded 117 million. Twenty-five years ago, in the year 2000, the number was about 38 million. The causes are war, violence, persecution, and human rights violations. Moreover, more than 295 million people worldwide suffer from acute hunger.
If we truly strive to love our neighbor as ourselves, we should do all that we can to help migrants. In this context, it seems opportune to review Church teaching on immigration. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
“The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.” (CCC 2241)
We can summarize Church teaching in a few points:
- We are obliged to help all the migrants that we can. We may not be able to help everyone, but we should do our best as we strive to love our neighbors as ourselves. We need robust provisions so that people in need may enter our country legally.
- Governments also have the obligation to safeguard the common good of the country. This entails the need to prevent dangerous criminals, drug traffickers, and terrorists from entering our country, as well as to enact just laws to regulate immigration.
- Migrants also need to respect our culture, laws, and civic duties.
Every human being has infinite dignity. Let us treat migrants in accordance with the intrinsic dignity that they possess as human persons. There is no place for anti-immigrant attitudes and rhetoric. Let us love our neighbors as ourselves.
Sincerely in Christ,
+Most Reverend John Doerfler
Bishop of Marquette
The Anchor of Hope podcast new episode: "Is God Listening?"
THE U.P. CATHOLIC
The logo for Bishop John Doerfler’s podcast titled “The Anchor of Hope." Bishop Doerfler co-hosts the podcast with Hattie Hanold. The podcast is distributed to multiple websites and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more.
"Does God hear my prayers?"
"Why haven't I gotten an answer to my prayer?"
Have you ever asked questions like this during prayer? Listen to the new episode of The Anchor of Hope released on Dec. 4, 2025 titled "Is God Listening?" to find out more about how God wants to align your mind and heart closer to his.
The show is available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora and more. Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast feed on your app of choice to be notified of new episode releases. New episodes of the podcast will be released on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
"Why haven't I gotten an answer to my prayer?"
Have you ever asked questions like this during prayer? Listen to the new episode of The Anchor of Hope released on Dec. 4, 2025 titled "Is God Listening?" to find out more about how God wants to align your mind and heart closer to his.
The show is available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora and more. Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast feed on your app of choice to be notified of new episode releases. New episodes of the podcast will be released on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
