The Diocesan Council of Catholic Action of Huesca has made public a statement in which it strongly supports the extraordinary regularization of migrant persons that is being processed in Spain since April 16, and harshly criticizes both the political speeches against the measure and the «national priority» policies implemented in some autonomous communities and the deportation of unaccompanied minors to their countries of origin.
The body, which brings together the Workers’ Brotherhood of Catholic Action (HOAC), the Young Christian Workers (JOC), the Junior Educators, and the Christian Rural Movement, argues that the regularization constitutes «a response to more than 500,000 people who are an active part of our society» and who, despite working, caring for, and sustaining «essential sectors of our daily life,» lack the basic rights to lead a dignified life.
Support for the ILP and the Royal Decree
The statement recalls the institutional journey of the measure. Two years ago, more than 600,000 people signed the Popular Legislative Initiative promoted by the «¡Regularización ya!» platform and supported by more than 900 organizations, including the Spanish Catholic Church. Its processing was approved in the Congress of Deputies on April 9, 2024, with the votes of all parliamentary groups except Vox.
The Huesca Catholic Action joins the declaration signed by the Network of Entities for Solidary Development (REDES), the Spanish Confederation of Religious (CONFER), Cáritas, and the Migration Department of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, which consider the approval of the Royal Decree «a measure of political, ethical, and social responsibility.»
In the opinion of the signatories, the regularization «is not only an administrative or economic issue, but deeply human and ethical,» and it contributes to guaranteeing fundamental rights such as residence and work, combating the irregular economy, «strengthening social cohesion,» and «ensuring that they feel and are treated as persons.»
«Saying they come to live off benefits is not only false: it is indecent»
The harshest tone of the statement is reserved for the political positions against regularization. The text expresses the «concern» of the Diocesan Council for the statements of political organizations that reject the measure and, «from fraternal correction,» asks them to review their positions.
«Saying that they come to live off benefits, that they collapse services, that they threaten our identity or security, that they rape our women… is not only false: it is indecent,» the statement affirms. The same qualification of «indecent» is applied to the «national priority» that, according to the text, «is being imposed in some autonomous communities,» as well as to the practice of «deporting unaccompanied minors to their countries.»