Migrants walk alongside the railroad tracks after dismounting from the “La Bestia” train, which they rode through Mexico to reach the Mexico-U.S. border near Chihuahua, Mexico, on Sept. 27, 2023. / Credit: David Peinado Romero/Shutterstock
CNA Staff, Jul 28, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
A group of Catholic mothers in the U.S., inspired by Catholic social teaching, is urging support for migrants in the United States through the Dorothea Project, which seeks to defend human dignity, respond to injustice, and educate others in Catholic social teaching.
Katie Holler, a Catholic mother of two, felt called to take action when she learned about the treatment migrants were receiving amid ongoing mass deportations. Turning to social media, she made several posts about the situation and quickly gathered a group of a dozen like-minded Catholic mothers.
Through online meetings, the mothers took their first action in July — launching a letter-writing campaign to U.S. bishops urging them to speak out publicly and advocate for better treatment toward migrants.
A sample letter on the group’s website written from “a concerned parishioner” says:
“In this moment of profound crisis, I respectfully urge you to stand publicly and actively in solidarity with our migrant brothers and sisters. As a shepherd of the Church, your voice carries moral authority and hope. In light of the Church’s teachings on human dignity, the preferential option for the poor, and the call to welcome the stranger, I believe now is the time for bold and courageous leadership in defense of the marginalized.”
In the two weeks since the launch of the letter campaign, more than 150 letters have been sent to 75 bishops. The group has received one response from the Indiana Catholic Conference seeking to discuss the matter more.
While the group began with only Catholic mothers, it has now expanded to include any Catholic woman interested in taking part. There are currently almost 300 women connected to the Dorothea Project.
The group found inspiration for its name from two Catholic women known for speaking out against injustices: Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman and Servant of God Dorothy Day.
Born in Canton, Mississippi, in 1937, Thea Bowman converted to Catholicism as a child inspired by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, who were teachers and pastors at Holy Child Jesus Church and School in Canton. Bowman witnessed Catholics around her caring for the poor and those in need, and this is what drew her to the Catholic Church.
At the age of 15, she told her family she wanted to join the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and became a highly acclaimed evangelizer, teacher, speaker, and writer.
As a young adult, Day was very involved in political activism. She became Catholic in 1927 and in 1933 co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement, which combined direct aid for the poor with nonviolent action on behalf of justice.
Day lived in voluntary poverty, advocating for workers’ rights, racial equality, and peace, even when it meant challenging both Church leaders and government policies. Always speaking up for the marginalized, she was arrested multiple times for acts of civil disobedience.
Holler told CNA that while the letter campaign has ended, “we are still helping women send letters by sharing our template on our website.”
“We are now continuing our efforts by figuring out how we can build relationships with parishes and priests for prolonged education, prayer, solidarity, and action related to issues of Catholic social teaching,” she added. “We are also beginning to work on some new campaigns focused on specific feast days. Both of these are in the beginning planning phases.”
“We’re growing fast and are very thankful to be connecting with so many women across the country who are moved by the Gospel and love of neighbor,” Holler said.
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New York City, N.Y., Nov 6, 2019 / 01:00 pm (CNA).- A federal judge in New York overturned the Trump administration’s conscience protection rule for health care workers on Wednesday.
The “Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Ca… […]
Pope Francis meets with the United States bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23, 2015. / Credit: L’Osservatore Romano
CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, visited the United States just once, nearly 10 years ago, in September 2015.
Despite the brevity of the visit, he accomplished a lot: Attracting hundreds of thousands of participants, he canonized a new saint (St. Junípero Serra), became the first pope to ever address a joint session of Congress, and galvanized the U.S. Catholic community with his presence and his speeches on the East Coast.
Washington, D.C.
Pope Francis began his tour of North America with several days in Cuba. Landing in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 22, 2015, Pope Francis met with President Barack Obama first thing the next morning. The meeting came amid a time of concerns for many American Catholics regarding politics, including the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate and the recent legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, via the June 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Pope Francis is greeted by President Barack Obama on Sept. 22, 2015. Credit: Somodevilla/Getty Images
During the presidential meeting, Francis praised Obama’s commitment to inclusivity and noted that American Catholics have contributed greatly to building a tolerant and inclusive society while also stressing that religious liberty “remains one of America’s most precious possessions.” He also encouraged commitment to addressing the “urgent” issue of climate change, building on his expansive 2015 encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’.
Pope Francis says Mass for clergy and religious in Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Sept. 26, 2015. Credit: L’Osservatore Romano.
While in D.C., that same day, the pope addressed bishops and priests at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and later celebrated Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. At the latter Mass, he celebrated the first canonization on American soil by declaring Junípero Serra, who founded missions along present-day California, a saint.
“He was the embodiment of ‘a Church which goes forth,’ a Church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God,” the pope said.
Crowds gather for the Mass canonizing St. Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23, 2015. Credit: Alan Holdren/CNA
On the same day, Francis made an unscheduled stop to visit with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C., to support the sisters as they awaited word on whether or not the Supreme Court will hear their case against the federal contraception mandate. (The sisters are still fighting aspects of the mandate, even after more than 14 years in court.)
Pope Francis greets Sister Marie Mathilde, 102 years old, at the Jeanne Jugan Residence in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2015. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Little Sisters of the Poor
Francis addressed a joint session of Congress the next day, Sept. 24, making him the first pope to ever to do so. During his lengthy speech, he condemned the arms trade and the death penalty — statements that reportedly made some lawmakers in the room squirm.
Francis went on to assert that the family was being threatened like never before and praised American figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., for their tireless efforts to defend freedom and moral values. He also touched on respect for human life and the environment in the well-received speech.
Pope Francis speaks to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24, 2015. Credit: L’Osservatore Romano
The pope also visited St. Patrick Parish and met with people experiencing homelessness at Catholic Charities, addressing people who minister to the poor. He offered St. Joseph as their patron and model, because, he said, St. Joseph grappled with injustice and suffering in his care for Mary and Jesus.
“The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person,” the pope said. “The Son of God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head.”
“We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing. There are many unjust situations, but we know that God is suffering with us, experiencing them at our side. He does not abandon us.”
Controversially, while in D.C. Pope Francis met with Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who had become a cultural lightning rod for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. The pope reportedly told her to “stay strong,” offering rosaries to Davis and her husband. The Vatican later clarified that Francis met with Davis and her husband as part of a large group invited by the nunciature, with the Vatican spokesperson adding that the pope “did not enter into the details” of her situation.
New York City
After flying to New York City the evening of Sept. 24 and praying vespers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, Francis addressed the United Nations General Assembly the next day, Sept. 25, the fifth time a pope had addressed the body.
The pontiff issued a call to the countries of the world to reject what he called “ideological colonization” — the “imposition of anomalous models and lifestyles which are alien to people’s identity and, in the end, irresponsible.”
Pope Francis’ historic address to the U.N. in New York City on Sept. 25, 2015. Credit: Alan Holdren/CNA
Like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis made a solemn visit with other religious leaders to Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 attacks, later on Sept. 25. He met with families of first responders, saying at the site museum that acts of destruction always have “a face, a concrete story, names.” He offered a “prayer of remembrance” for all those killed that day, along with a prayer for the survivors and those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Pope Francis speaks during an interreligious prayer service at Ground Zero, Sept. 25, 2015. Credit: Addie Mena/CNA
Later that day, after visiting Our Lady, Queen of the Angels School in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Francis celebrated Mass at Madison Square Garden. He encouraged people to remember those in the city who are often forgotten, including “foreigners, the children who go without schooling, those deprived of medical insurance, the homeless, the forgotten elderly.”
Madison Square Garden prepares for the papal Mass, Sept. 25, 2015. Credit: Alan Holdren/CNA
“Knowing that Jesus still walks our streets, that he is part of the lives of his people, that he is involved with us in one vast history of salvation, fills us with hope. A hope which liberates us from the forces pushing us to isolation and lack of concern for the lives of others, for the life of our city,” the pope said.
“A hope which frees us from empty ‘connections,’ from abstract analyses, or sensationalist routines. A hope which is unafraid of involvement, which acts as a leaven wherever we happen to live and work. A hope which makes us see, even in the midst of smog, the presence of God as he continues to walk the streets of our city.”
Philadelphia
Pope Francis’ visit included an appearance at the 2015 World Meeting of Families (WMF) in Philadelphia, an event that focuses on celebrating the gift of the family.
Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015. Credit: L’Osservatore Romano
After flying to the “City of Brotherly Love” the morning of Sept. 26, Pope Francis took part in a Mass for clergy and religious at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. In his homily address, the pope challenged the clergy and religious to inspire new vocations.
He called for women to take on a greater role in the Church, highlighting the example of St. Katharine Drexel — a Philadelphia native — and he reminded the priests and religious present of their role in ministering to families, couples preparing for marriage, and young people.
He later addressed a crowd of some 50,000 people at Independence Mall, the site of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, for a religious freedom rally with Hispanic and other immigrants.
Speaking to thousands of families gathered on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia that night, a visibly moved Pope Francis ditched his prepared remarks and instead gave an impromptu reflection on the beauty and dire importance of family life. He voiced his thanks at “the presence of all of you — who are a real witness that it’s worth being a family!” A society “is strong, solid, and edified on beauty, goodness, and truth,” he added.
Pope Francis addresses the Festival of Families in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015. Credit: EWTN
On Sept. 27, the next day, Francis had an unscripted meeting with five abuse survivors — three women and two men — all of whom had been abused in childhood either by members of the clergy, family members, or educators. He promised accountability for perpetrators and expressed sorrow for the victims’ suffering.
In the face of such heinous acts as sexual abuse, “God cries,” he said, adding that “the criminal sins of the abuse of minors can’t be kept in silence any longer … I promise, with the vigilance of the Church, to protect minors and I promise [that] all of those responsible will be held accountable.”
He told a gathering of international bishops afterward that the survivors’ stories of suffering “have aggravated my heart” and said that crimes of abuse must never be kept in silence.
Later that morning, Francis visited a Philadelphia correctional facility, saying at the meeting with a group of 100 inmates and their families that every person is marked and bruised by life, but Jesus washes away our sins and invites us to live a full life.
Pope Francis embraces a man at Curran-Fromhold Correction Facility in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Credit: EWTN
Reflecting on the trip, the Holy Father said it was “particularly moving for me to canonize St. Junípero Serra, who reminds us all of our call to be missionary disciples.”
He added that he was touched “to stand with my brothers and sisters of other religions at Ground Zero, that place which speaks so powerfully of the mystery of evil. Yet we know with certainty that evil never has the last word, and that, in God’s merciful plan, love and peace triumph over all.”
Furthermore, he promised his prayers for the U.S. people, saying: “This land has been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities. I pray that you may all be good and generous stewards of the human and material resources entrusted to you.”
“I thank the Lord that I was able to witness the faith of God’s people in this country, as manifested in our moments of prayer together and evidenced in so many works of charity.”
Concluding, he asked those present: “Do not let your enthusiasm for Jesus, his Church, our families, and the broader family of society run dry.”
“May our days together bear fruit that will last, generosity and care for others that will endure!” he said. “Just as we have received so much from God — gifts freely given us, and not of our own making — so let us freely give to others in return.”
“Migrants walk alongside the railroad tracks after dismounting from the “La Bestia” train, which they rode through Mexico to reach the Mexico-U.S. border near Chihuahua, Mexico, on Sept. 27, 2023.”
*************
It’s a fitting photo & a reminder that we contribute to the hardship, violence & extortion migrants face coming here illegally. There’s nothing wrong with securing the border to make immigration legal & safe & to take away business from the cartels who exploit these people.
This article lost me about 4 sentences in. Illegals have no rights and no claim on American resources. It might be fun to pretend we have unlimited cash to do everything each do-gooder suggests. But it must have been made abundantly clear in the last decades that we do NOT. There is not enough housing, jobs, seats in classrooms, doctors, or taxpayer money to provide free stuff for people who do not live here. But sure want to come here for the freebies they cannot attain in their own countries which are supposed to be responsible for them. By far, the majority of illegals in the US are NOT fleeing war. They are looking for jobs. OUR people’s jobs.
In an irony that the women took as their inspiration two women who were AMERICAN born. It might seem exotic to help illegals, but in truth, your fellow citizen is also your neighbor. It might have been nice if they turned their attention to our homeless veterans for example.
AS for me, my donations will NEVER go to NGO’s which advocate for breaking American laws as if it was nothing.
Correction: A migrant is someone who crosses a border LEGALLY to secure work. That’s honorable. These are NOT MIGRANTS. They are illegal aliens who broke the law when they entered our country.
Let’s stop the pactice in the Church by using words that confuse – in effect, words that purposely deceive.
Catholic mothers are a wonderful thing. But they are not a homogeneous group. I went to the website but it is fairly thin in terms of providing information about the Dorothea Project (who founded it, who are the core members steering the group, what their backgrounds and interests are, etc.). It could be that this group has taken off very quickly and there hasn’t been much time to get organized in a substantial way.
Hopefully they will fill in more details in the coming months, For instance, is this group mainly seeking to ensure that immigrants, including immigrants who are here illegally, are treated fairly, but otherwise taking a neutral stance? Or they also seeking to oppose the current administration’s immigration policy, in hopes of overturning or changing it? Are they allied to any other immigration-related grouos? If they were to show up at my parish, I would want to know the answer to those questions.
Yes, I have many of the same questions. Surely, there is a bit more to the story than just some Catholic moms at the grassroots organizing on behalf of illegal immigrants. Where might their funding be coming from? Besides the “moms”, who else might be involved in this effort at the top level? A quick Internet search on one of the principals suggests a strong ideological orientation. CNA won’t tell us, but the truth is out there somewhere.
“Migrants walk alongside the railroad tracks after dismounting from the “La Bestia” train, which they rode through Mexico to reach the Mexico-U.S. border near Chihuahua, Mexico, on Sept. 27, 2023.”
*************
It’s a fitting photo & a reminder that we contribute to the hardship, violence & extortion migrants face coming here illegally. There’s nothing wrong with securing the border to make immigration legal & safe & to take away business from the cartels who exploit these people.
This article lost me about 4 sentences in. Illegals have no rights and no claim on American resources. It might be fun to pretend we have unlimited cash to do everything each do-gooder suggests. But it must have been made abundantly clear in the last decades that we do NOT. There is not enough housing, jobs, seats in classrooms, doctors, or taxpayer money to provide free stuff for people who do not live here. But sure want to come here for the freebies they cannot attain in their own countries which are supposed to be responsible for them. By far, the majority of illegals in the US are NOT fleeing war. They are looking for jobs. OUR people’s jobs.
In an irony that the women took as their inspiration two women who were AMERICAN born. It might seem exotic to help illegals, but in truth, your fellow citizen is also your neighbor. It might have been nice if they turned their attention to our homeless veterans for example.
AS for me, my donations will NEVER go to NGO’s which advocate for breaking American laws as if it was nothing.
Correction: A migrant is someone who crosses a border LEGALLY to secure work. That’s honorable. These are NOT MIGRANTS. They are illegal aliens who broke the law when they entered our country.
Let’s stop the pactice in the Church by using words that confuse – in effect, words that purposely deceive.
Catholic mothers are a wonderful thing. But they are not a homogeneous group. I went to the website but it is fairly thin in terms of providing information about the Dorothea Project (who founded it, who are the core members steering the group, what their backgrounds and interests are, etc.). It could be that this group has taken off very quickly and there hasn’t been much time to get organized in a substantial way.
Hopefully they will fill in more details in the coming months, For instance, is this group mainly seeking to ensure that immigrants, including immigrants who are here illegally, are treated fairly, but otherwise taking a neutral stance? Or they also seeking to oppose the current administration’s immigration policy, in hopes of overturning or changing it? Are they allied to any other immigration-related grouos? If they were to show up at my parish, I would want to know the answer to those questions.
Yes, I have many of the same questions. Surely, there is a bit more to the story than just some Catholic moms at the grassroots organizing on behalf of illegal immigrants. Where might their funding be coming from? Besides the “moms”, who else might be involved in this effort at the top level? A quick Internet search on one of the principals suggests a strong ideological orientation. CNA won’t tell us, but the truth is out there somewhere.
I agree Mary E.
It seems like there’s some additional information needed about this group.