Bishop Keehner reflects upon first USCCB meeting, immigration message

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communication
 
Bishop John E. Keehner participated in discussions and a vote on the “special message” issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at his first Plenary Assembly as Bishop of Sioux City. The USCCB pointed out in the press release that a special message had not been issued in 12 years. The meetings were held in Baltimore from Nov. 11 to 13.
 
In communion with Pope Leo XIV, the bishops issued a special message Nov. 12, addressing “their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States” due to the surge in enforcement “prompting anxiety and fear in communities across the country.”
 
Bishop Keehner said it was “the most weighty issue we dealt with,” at the November Plenary Assembly.
 
“We came out with a statement that I thought was strong. I don’t agree with everything in that statement, but I think it’s a strong, balanced statement. I know there are people that are going to disagree with it and that’s fine,” Bishop Keehner said of the final document.
 
Drafting the message
Each bishop received a draft of the document at the conference in order to review it overnight and then discuss in their regional sessions. The Diocese of Sioux City is part of Region IX with dioceses of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
 
“I’m really impressed by the bishops in our region. Our discussion was very thoughtful, very prayerful, very respectful,” Bishop Keehner said. “There was a very strong pastoral concern. The concern was expressed not just for the migrants, but for the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) workers and for the law enforcement officers.”
 
After the regional discussions regarding the message, each region forwarded their comments, suggestions and critiques to the USCCB leadership prior to the General Assembly discussions.

“When I saw the redacted document the next day, it was obvious that some of the suggestions we made in our region were incorporated,” the bishop said. “And that was looking at this specifically from a Scriptural point of view and some of the wording in the opening paragraph. They really took into consideration the discussions that took place on the regional level.”
 
Bishops debated the proposed wording of the message and immigration issue itself during the General Assembly.
 

“I don’t think anybody there disagrees that we need a strong border. I don’t think anybody there disagrees that we need to support law enforcement,” Bishop Keehner stressed. “I think the biggest concern that we were expecting is the rhetoric that every immigrant is bad.”

 
He said that both at the regional meetings and the general sessions, the bishops were approaching the topic as pastors caring for their people and discerning how to “stand up for the sanctity of human life.”
 
“As a pastor, I don’t ask where somebody is from. I don’t ask whether that person is here legally. I have to respond as a pastor, seeing in that person the image of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Keehner explained. “I’m hoping that is the motivation that we all had in those discussions.”

The bishops also discussed the need to continue to dialogue with the administration regarding immigration “and recognizing that they do want to hear from us, which is good to hear.” 

“Some people don’t listen to us anymore, or they listen to us just to argue with us,” Bishop Keehner said. “It is what it is, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make a statement.”
 
Sacred Heart of Jesus
The bishops discussed how the church would commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the United States in 2026. They turned to Pope Francis’ final encyclical, Dilexit nos, which calls for a renewed devotion to the Sacred Heart for inspiration.
 
“We decided that on the solemnity of Corpus Christi in June 2026 when we will be meeting together as a conference that we will consecrate our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Bishop Keehner said. “Then hopefully we’ll do some kind of celebration in our respective dioceses after that.”
 
The bishops advanced the cause for beatification and canonization for Father Richard M. Thomas, a priest of the Society of Jesus. He died in 2006 after several years of declining health.
 
“He was very active in the pro-life movement in the area around El Paso and Juarez and very active in feeding the hungry especially in some of the migrant camps,” Bishop Keehner said. “There were a few bishops there who knew him and spoke out on his behalf, spoke to his personal holiness and prayerfulness.”
 
In the Region IX meeting, Bishop Keehner was appointed to serve as representative to the North American College (NAC), operated by the USCCB. He said he was happy to serve as the representative as he attended canon law school at the NAC, and two seminarians – Deacon Thomas Kollasch and Anthony Vera – are currently enrolled in the seminary.
 
The bishops elected Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City as president and Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville as vice president to lead the conference. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend was elected as secretary to fill the vacancy created with Archbishop Coakley elected as president. Chairmen of six committees were elected.

Cover photo - Bishop Keehner behind the dais as the bishops discussed the immigration special message. /Credit Jack Haskins, CNA photo.

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