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Washington (Agenzia Fides) – Need to meet members of Congress to try to raise awareness of what could happen if Salvadorans (about 200 thousand) lost their temporary protection status and meet immigrant Salvadoran faithful in the United States. This is the intention of the journey of four Bishops who from El Salvador arrived in Washington on April 10th, where they will be staying to meet the US Bishops.
Last January Trump’s administration announced that it would revoke the granting of the temporary protection status for El Salvador (see Fides 09/01/2018), recognition that allows people to reside and work in the United States when the country of origin is threatened by natural disasters, violence or other extraordinary circumstances. A decision that was repeatedly condemned by the Bishops of the United States and El Salvador.
The delegation currently in the United States is composed of Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador; Mgr. José L. Escobar Alas, Archbishop of San Salvador; Mgr. Elías Samuel Bolaños Avelar, Bishop of Zacatoluca and Msg. William Irahera, Bishop of Santiago de María. The Bishops will celebrate a Mass today, at 7 pm (local time), with the Bishop of Arlington, Michael F. Burbidge, in the Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Mgr. Burbidge, according to a note sent to Agenzia Fides, declared his joy in receiving "my brother Bishops of El Salvador" in the Catholic diocese of Arlington, recalling that the presence of many believers of El Salvador brought “their culture and a great faith, of which we have greatly benefited", because "like many other people of different origins, Salvadorians give value to the family, constitute a generous community, always ready to help others". (LG) (Agenzia Fides 12/04/2018)
