Hundreds of Catholic bishops ramp up holy 'war' against Trump admin: report

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

May 24, 2025 4:53PM ET


A group composed of hundreds of Catholic bishops is ramping up its "war" against Donald Trump and his administration, according to a Newsweek report Saturday. According to the outlet's weekend article, "The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) seems to be battling with President Donald Trump's administration over some of its policies."

The article is called, "American Bishops' War With Trump Admin Is Heating Up." "Last week, the USCCB, the official assembly of the Catholic Church in the United States, slammed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter," the report states.

Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, was quoted as saying, "It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved."

But other news reports suggest this isn't the first dust up between the USCCB and the Trump administration, and the Newsweek report confirms that. "It comes amid an ongoing civil case in which the USCCB is suing the Trump administration over its suspension of refugee programs," according to the report.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/catholics-wage-holy-war-trump/

[gordianot]

1. That is very possibly true but the source Newsweek.

Newsweek has about as much credibility as FOX News.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Newsweek was referencing this press statement issued by the USCCB last week --

Protecting Pregnant Mothers and their Children Can Never be Considered “Obsolete”

The bishops were responding to the Trump Administration’s recent rescission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance for addressing the heightened needs of pregnant and postpartum women and their newborn children while in CBP custody.

May 19, 2025


WASHINGTON – “It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, and Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities. The bishops were responding to the Trump Administration’s recent rescission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance for addressing the heightened needs of pregnant and postpartum women and their newborn children while in CBP custody.

The rescinded policy established minimum standards of care, including that mothers and their babies receive food, water, formula, safe places to sleep, and regular monitoring, as well as that they be placed in the least restrictive setting possible. The rationale given for the rescission was that the guidance was “obsolete or misaligned with current Agency guidance and immigration enforcement priorities.” Related guidance pertaining to custodial considerations for medically at-risk individuals was also rescinded. No new guidance was promulgated in their place.

The bishops’ full statement follows:

“The U.S. bishops have spoken plainly and clearly about the proven harms that immigration detention is known to inflict on families and especially on young children, opposing its use for these populations unless absolutely necessary. It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved. As a result, instances of neglect and abuse, even if inadvertent, will be more likely to occur, putting the lives of pregnant mothers and their children at risk. This decision is all the more concerning as the Administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention.

“Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered ‘obsolete.’ This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody.”

###

Sometimes "news" is just news.

[Hekate]

8. Good

Also, thanks, BRDS

[John1956PA]

2. The USCCB was all in for George W. Bush in 2004.

The USCCB urged passage of tort reform legislation which would cap victims' recoveries in civil lawsuits. I left the Catholic Church not long thereafter.

[Raven123]

3. When the president of the USCCB grows a conscience and leads, let me know

Seitz has been outspoken on this issue, and I appreciate it. This should be elevated above Committee level to the general Conference of Bishops and Archbishop Broglio ought to be in front.

[3Hotdogs]

4. Good.

Maybe Trump will get pissed and end their tax exempt status.

[twodogsbarking]

6. I like how you think.

[BadgerMom]

7. Maybe preach to the Catholic conservatives on the SC.

[ancianita]

9. Just Security Litigation Tracker updates: the USCCB case has been dismissed, and the Catholic Charities case "closed".

Update 3: On Mar. 3, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, an amended motion for a preliminary injunction, and a memorandum in support of that motion; and Judge McFadden ruled that the prior motions for a preliminary injunction are moot in light of the new motion. The amended complaint and the amended motion for a preliminary injunction are in response to new developments in the case, e.g., on Feb. 27, the State Department terminated the cooperative agreements with USCCB for refugee resettlement. This termination changed the nature of the dispute from a suspension of funding to a complete cancellation of the contracts.
Update 4: On Mar. 5, the government filed in opposition to the motion for a preliminary injunction and the following day, on Mar. 6, the plaintiffs filed a reply.
Update 5: On Mar. 11, Judge McFadden denied Plaintiffs’ motion for an emergency preliminary injunction.
Update 6: On Mar. 12, Plaintiffs submitted a notice of appeal to the DC Circuit.
Update 7: On Apr. 21, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss and supporting memorandum, claiming that the government has not waived sovereign immunity, and the Plaintiff’s claims are moot, lack jurisdiction, and fail to state a claim.
Update 8: On May 2, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ordered that the Defendants motion be granted and the case be dismissed.

https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/


So far, in two cases before the courts, the Catholic Church has struck out.