The Texas attorney general’s attack on the House of Annunciation in El Paso is “madness,” Pope Francis said during an interview on “60 Minutes.”
Pope Francis was specifically asked during a May 19 interview with KeynoteUSA’ “60 Minutes” reporter Norah O’Donnell about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s filing of a lawsuit against the Catholic organization without nonprofit organization in El Paso whose goals are to help immigrants seeking asylum.
“That is madness, pure madness,” Pope Francis said. “Closing the border and leaving them there is crazy. You have to receive the migrant. Then you see how you are going to deal with him. Maybe you have to send him back. I don’t know. But each case must be considered humanely.”
Archive:A look back at Pope Francis’ visit to Juárez
The Pope’s comments come after Paxton filed a lawsuit demanding the closure of the Annunciation House. Paxton claimed the nonprofit is a “hiding house” that protects illegal immigrants in the US.
Officials at the Texas Attorney General’s Office could not be reached for comment.
Further:Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Moves to Temporarily Close El Paso’s House of Annunciation
Annunciation House has offered hospitality to migrants and refugees in El Paso for decades. The volunteer organization has played a critical role in helping migrants released by Border Patrol officials seeking asylum in the U.S. or other forms of immigration relief.
The director of the House of the Annunciation, Rubén García, said it was “gratifying” to hear Pope Francis speak about the importance of organizations like the House of the Annunciation in providing human services to migrants fleeing their country and asking for help.
“The Pope responded ‘that’s crazy,'” Garcia said. “It is gratifying to me that what the Pope is emphasizing is not only the relationship that the House of the Annunciation has, but also the refugees around the world who flee their countries because they are afraid or cannot support their families. . and they are crossing borders all over the world. It is crazy that organizations, NGOs and churches are trying to do the humanitarian work of receiving and meeting people’s basic human needs, and that someone wants to stop that.
Paxton’s mission to shut down Annunciation House began in February when he sent three lawyers to Annunciation House demanding that the nonprofit hand over documents. The documents included names, dates of birth, medical history, medications the migrants needed, and the names of the migrants’ family members.
Annunciation House officials refused to release the documents and filed a lawsuit seeking a judge’s ruling on which documents the nonprofit must legally release.
Further:Judge: Texas attorney general’s office acted ‘unprofessional’ in requesting records from Annunciation House
Paxton responded by filing a countersuit alleging that Annunciation House is a “hiding house” that protects illegal immigrants in the US.
The lawsuits remain pending and a hearing is expected to be held in June, Garcia said.
For García, the Pope’s comments show that the work being done by Annunciation House and other nonprofits around the world are morally correct actions to address the mass migration crisis. García enjoys the support of a powerful world leader.
Further:El Paso Leaders Criticize Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Lawsuit Against Annunciation House
“It’s affirmative,” Garcia said. “It’s affirmative for me. It’s affirmative for many other people who work tirelessly, who get up every day to make sure meals are prepared, that cribs have sheets, that care packages are prepared, that life plans are made. trip, let the door open. “It’s very affirmative. “The Pope is obviously a very powerful voice when it comes to the moral issues facing our world and knowing that he has your back is really gratifying.”
You can reach Aaron Martinez at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.