Malloy's silence speaks volumes

Recently, President Obama signed an executive order granting protection from deportation to nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants and allowing millions of families to stay together; a cherished American as well as Catholic value.

The newly appointed Archbishop of Chicago Blaise Cupich praised this action, describing it as a "first step" toward reform of our broken immigration system. His remarks reflect Pope Francis' call on the Roman Catholic clergy to move away from a compulsive obsession on judgmentalism and morality and instead adopt a pastoral style of mercy that embraces the poor, immigrants and the socially excluded.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the leadership or our Diocese of Rockford and Bishop David Malloy have been completely silent on Obama's executive order. A year ago, Bishop Malloy was quick to pen a letter, read at every Mass throughout our diocese, condemning the Illinois General Assembly after passing SB 10, which declared marriage equality the law of the land in our state. Today's silence, however, speaks volumes.

Undocumented immigrants attend our parishes by the thousands. They faithfully attend Sunday Mass and support our diocese both economically and with volunteer work. In many cases they are responsible for the very existence of many of our parishes. Evidently, Pope Francis' prophetic call to conversion to our clergy has not resounded clearly enough in our Diocese of Rockford.

As a baptized Catholic, I call upon Bishop Malloy to exercise pastoral commitment to our immigrants and give his full support to the president's executive order. "The aliens shall be to you as citizens, and shall also be allotted an inheritance." - Ezekiel 47:21-22.

Angel R. Llavona

Algonquin