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Texas officials stand ready to shut down several religious ministries that would leave homeless foster children and immigrant children in mass facilities. Unless something changes, it will happen on August 31st, which violates state laws protecting religious freedom.
Throughout the state of Texas, Catholic charities provide home care to hundreds of migrant children at risk every day; many were born in Texas and some were abandoned and left alone after crossing the border. Children in our homes often suffer from severe trauma, instability and insecurity. For those who have crossed the border, many have fled or evaded drug cartels and child smugglers on their way to this country.
Motivated by our faith, Catholic charities provide food, clothing, and shelter for these children by following Jesus’ command to care for orphans and widows in need, to welcome the stranger, and to care for the suffering.
But this work is now in jeopardy. A recently enacted state ordinance will soon revoke childcare licenses from all organizations protecting migrant children, including the six child welfare programs run by Catholic charities in Texas. While this arrangement may be well-intentioned, it has serious unintended consequences. The order would not only take migrant children out of custody; It would also shut down homes that care for Texas-born foster children. Instead of relieving pressure on Texas’ overburdened care system, it would put hundreds of these children each year in a system that is already home shortage.
And it would remove the state-level safeguards of conscience for Catholic charities, exposing us to regulation and pressure from those who do not share our commitment to the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of mothers and children. The move will cost children’s homes and Texans jobs. Losing their state license to Catholic charities would deprive well over 100 Texas foster children of loving foster care and support, San Antonio and Dallas.
If Catholic charities emergency shelters were forced to close their doors, the Texas foster children they serve would be removed from these safe and caring environments they know and moved to new places. Studies show that the more a foster child moves from one place to another and the clerk changes, the lower the chances of finding a permanent home. The migrant children we care for would be removed from home settings and relocated to federal institutions that do not have the resources and staff to adequately care for children with trauma and human trafficking. It is not a place for a child to live.
Catholic charities have a great tradition as our people are driven by our faith and calling to care for those who suffer. We consider grace and charity to be unconditional, and our homes are essential to caring for migrants and vulnerable Texas-born children. We care for these children as we do our own so that they can be comforted and eventually reunited with their families.
The state of Texas has an opportunity to protect children and live up to its commitment to religious freedom. This helps both unaccompanied minors and foster children born in Texas. It also follows state laws that have been enacted to protect the freedom of religion and the rights of conscience of those who care for children. Texas should continue to follow the example it has set for the protection of religious freedom and life by supporting much-needed social services such as Catholic charities in their work for all vulnerable children.
Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz is the Bishop of El Paso.
The Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores is the Bishop of Brownsville.
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