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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 13 november 2019

L.A.'s Gómez elected 1st Hispanic to lead U.S. Catholic bishops

By DAVID CRARY and RE- control policies adopted Like Gómez, Vigneron has
GINA GARCIA CANO by the Trump administra- criticized some U.S. policies
Associated Press tion. he deemed hostile to im-
BALTIMORE (AP) — Arch- He said he was praying for migrants. He is considered
bishop José Gómez of Los a favorable outcome from a staunch conservative on
Angeles, an immigrant the U.S. Supreme Court many other Catholic issues,
from Mexico, pledged to after it heard arguments though some conservatives
push for a more welcom- Tuesday on whether the have complained that he
ing immigration system af- administration could end a should halt a long-running
ter winning election Tues- program that allows some Dignity Mass in Detroit that
day as the first Hispanic to immigrants to work legally advocates full inclusion of
head the U.S. Conference in the U.S. while protect- LGBT Catholics.
of Catholic Bishops. ing them from deportation. Ordained in 1975, Vigneron
"I'm humbled by your sup- Gómez and other bishops was named archbishop
port," said Gómez, whose want the Deferred Action of Detroit in 2009 by Pope
predominantly Hispanic for Childhood Arrivals pro- Benedict XVI. Before that, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, of Los Angeles, smiles during a
archdiocese of 4 million gram to be extended. the Michigan native served news conference after being elected president of the United
Catholics is the largest in "Archbishop Gomez is a as a bishop in Oakland, States Conference of Catholic Bishops during their Fall General
the U.S. "I think it is a bless- quiet pastor with a power- California. Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 in Baltimore.
ing for the Latino commu- ful voice for immigrants," Gomez was born in Mon- Associated Press
nity." tweeted John Gehring, terrey, Mexico, and stud-
The issue of immigration is Catholic program direc- ied theology at the Univer- olics, they are no longer a programs, which he said
personal to Gómez, who tor at a Washington-based sity of Navarra in Spain. He majority-Catholic group, keep young people "out
has relatives and friends on clergy network called Faith was ordained an Opus Dei according to the Pew Re- of gangs" and "close to the
both sides of the U.S.-Mex- in Public Life. "The first Lati- priest in 1978 and worked search Center. A recent church."
ico border. He described no to lead Catholic bishops in the Galveston-Houston Pew survey said 47% of His- One of the most heated ex-
the situation at the border at a time when the Trump area and in Denver before panics in the U.S. now call changes among the bish-
as a "tragedy" and said he administration is attacking being named archbishop themselves Catholic, down ops was over whether op-
witnessed the "suffering of immigrants won't be afraid of San Antonio in 2004. He from 57% in 2009. position to abortion should
the people there" during to call out racism and na- became archbishop of Los In discussing outreach to be designated the "preemi-
visits to south Texas cities tivism." Angeles in 2011. Hispanics, many bishops nent" priority for the church
last year. Gómez succeeds Cardinal In August, after a gunman brought up the role of in the U.S.
"It's an essential cause," Daniel DiNardo, archbish- targeting Mexicans killed Catholic education. Some bishops in the con-
he said of overhauling im- op of Galveston-Houston, 22 people at a Walmart in El "I'd like to see you re- ference's relatively liberal
migration policy. "Our en- whose three-year presiden- Paso, Texas, Gómez wrote ally promote our Catho- faction expressed concern
couragement to elected cy was complicated by the a powerful statement con- lic schools," said Cardinal that this phrasing undercuts
officials is to find a good, church's clergy sex-abuse demning white supremacy Sean O'Malley, the arch- Pope Francis' recent calls
solid immigration reform crisis. and noting that Spanish bishop of Boston, "But we for emphasizing other priori-
that allows people to move Following the election of was spoken in North Ameri- know that the vast major- ties as well.
legally." Gómez, the bishops chose ca before English. ity of our Hispanic families But an effort to modify the
Gómez, 67, has been vice Detroit Archbishop Allen Also Tuesday, the Catholic cannot afford them." letter failed by a 2-to-1
president of the bishops' Vigneron, 71, as the new bishops voted to authorize He suggested the use of margin.
conference for the past vice president. By tradition, development of a "com- tax credits and vouchers "I like the pope's text, and I
three years. He is consid- that puts him in line to be- prehensive vision" for His- to help offset the cost of believe it — but I am against
ered a practical-minded come president in three panic ministry, to be com- tuition. anyone denying that abor-
conservative in terms of years, although he would pleted over the next few He also suggested build- tion is the preeminent so-
church doctrine but has be close to the mandatory years. ing more youth centers for cial issue of our time," said
made clear his disappoint- retirement age of 75 at that While Hispanics account for Hispanic children that offer Archbishop Charles Cha-
ment over key immigration- point. about 37% of all U.S. Cath- after-school and weekend put of Philadelphia.q