Archbishop Broglio calls bishops to insist on human dignity, aid migrants after election

The U.S. bishops gather in Baltimore on Nov. 12, 2024, for their fall plenary assembly. / Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNA

Baltimore, Md., Nov 12, 2024 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, called on the assembly of bishops gathered in Baltimore on Tuesday to uphold and proclaim Church teaching on human dignity in the wake of the recent elections. 

“As the successors of the apostles and vicars of Christ in our dioceses, we never backpedal or renounce the clear teaching of the Gospel,” the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops’ (USCCB) president declared.

“We must insist on the dignity of the human person from womb to tomb, be unstinting in our commitment … to see Christ in those who are most in need,” Broglio said.

Immigration and abortion have emerged as primary topics of discussion among the bishops at the November plenary assembly following President-elect Donald Trump’s success in last week’s elections. 

On the immigration issue, Trump pledged from the beginning of his campaign that upon election, he would carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. 

While Broglio stated that the bishops “certainly do not encourage illegal immigration,” he reminded the assembly of their responsibility as Christians to “lift up the poor and to encourage immigration reform, while we continue to care for those in need who cross our borders.” 

“We will all have to stand before the throne of grace and hear the Lord ask us if we saw him in the hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, stranger, or sick (cf. Mt 25:35-36) and responded to his needs,” he said.

Broglio, who also serves as archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, stressed the importance of working together, listening to one another, and maintaining charity in spite of disagreements in order “never to forget that the other is created in the image and likeness of God.” 

“We redouble our efforts to introduce civility into everyday discourse: Christians should be catalysts for a more humane and worthy approach to daily life,” he said. “The Christian faith spread in earlier times because those looking at Christians were impressed by their love for one another. The same should be true today.”

Leading up to Nov. 5, Trump also embraced positions on abortion and in vitro fertilization that conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church. He said he would veto a national abortion ban and affirmed his belief in exceptions for instances of rape, incest, and the health of the mother. He has also voiced his support for IVF treatments.