In the 1990s, America experienced a huge influx of immigrants from other countries.
Since then, however—and especially since the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001—that flow has dwindled and the nation's traditionally generous
attitude toward newcomers has become increasingly Scrooge-like, suspicious,
and pinched.
David Warren, PhD, a CHA communication specialist, is the guest editor of this
issue's special section on immigration and Catholic health care. In "Toward
Immigration Reform," Mark Franken, executive director of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops's Migration and Refugee Services, describes state and federal
legislation to strip immigrants of social and medical "safety-net"
services. Church ministries should work to restore those services, he argues.
In a related article,
Terrance P. McGuire, EdD, describes the work done by the Catholic Collaborative
Refugee Network, of which he is the national coordinator. Sr. Louise Lears,
SC, PhD, and Sr. Jean Abbott, CSJ, LCSW, remind us that refugees often suffer
acute psychological trauma and need—but don't often get—mental
health care for it. Karen Cameron and Eletta Hansen, RN, MPH, write about
a health assessment
of immigrant populations in Richmond, VA. Sr. Carol E. Stovall, SSJ, describes
a collaborative effort
to provide Tampa Bay, FL, immigrants with both jobs and access to health care.
A Trip to Africa
The U.S. bishops, during their November 2004 meeting in Washington, DC, approved
a proposal to aid the church in Africa. "The Church in Africa is the fastest
growing part of the Universal Church and the poorest part of our family of faith,"
the bishops noted. Rev. Cullene Bryant, DMin, a Protestant pastoral care worker
in a Catholic hospital in Canada, recently journeyed to Zambia. There she witnessed
ecumenical efforts to allay the effects of HIV/AIDS in that country. Read her
report, "God Is
Our Hope".
Copyright © 2005 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3477.