Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, delivered on September 28 a homily at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral, as part of the World Day of the Migrant and Refugee. It was a celebration with more than a century of tradition in the United States, designed to show pastoral closeness to immigrants and refugees.
But what should have been a homily of spiritual consolation turned into a political manifesto. McElroy assured that the country is experiencing an “unprecedented assault” against undocumented immigrants, accusing the Government of applying a “campaign of fear and terror” designed to separate families and force millions to “self-deport.” According to him, this offensive has robbed immigrants of any peace in their lives and constitutes a systematic aggression.
In his words, the Church’s teaching boiled down to a single question: are immigrants our neighbor? And, as an answer, he appealed to the parable of the Good Samaritan to affirm that any migration restriction constitutes a lack of charity. Although he briefly mentioned that Catholic social doctrine recognizes the right of States to defend their borders, he immediately relativized it, minimizing the illegal nature of irregular immigration.
Confusing mercy with complicity
Here is the critical point. Catholic doctrine cannot be manipulated to provide cover for illegality. Mercy can never serve as an excuse to bless disorder. Yes, the Church must accompany and console, but it must also remember that justice demands respect for the law. The opposite is falling into complicity.
McElroy seeks to present compassion as incompatible with law enforcement. But that is a false dichotomy. The Gospel does not eliminate justice, but elevates it. There is no true charity if the common good of an entire nation is trampled.
A homily that sows confusion
The result is a confusing and dangerous message. In the homily, illegal immigrants appear as absolute victims, almost martyrs of a perverse system, while the problem of illegality disappears from the scene. There is no distinction between those who cross the border irregularly and those who comply with the laws.
Thus, the pulpit becomes an ideological platform. The message that the faithful receive is that being Catholic means opposing any migration control measure, when the real teaching of the Church is much more complete and balanced.
Strong criticisms
The reactions were not long in coming. The Lepanto Institute wrote on X: “I was right when he said: ‘We are facing an unprecedented attack against our nation.’ Everything that came after was garbage. The truth is that an ideological invasion has been orchestrated in this country, and he and several of his colleagues are complicit.”
This comment reflects what many Catholics think: McElroy does not speak as a pastor, but as a politician. He does not console or strengthen in the faith, but legitimizes illegality under a veneer of compassion.
The real attack
The real attack we are experiencing is not just the migration crisis. It is the ideological invasion that seeks to empty the Church of its doctrine and replace it with a sentimental humanitarianism without roots in the truth.
McElroy, with his homily, did not defend the Gospel or the Church’s teaching. He merely justified illegality and sowed confusion among the faithful.
And Catholics do not need bishops who act as political activists. We need pastors who proclaim the full truth: yes to charity, but also yes to justice; yes to welcome, but also yes to the law. Anything else is pure deception.