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April 27, 2006
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Archdiocese trying to stem ‘raids’ rumors
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Unrest affecting Masses, parish life
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ST. FRANCIS — In an effort to stem what he termed “waves of rumors coursing through the Latino community,” Fr. Robert X. Stiefvater, archdiocesan vicar for Hispanic Ministry, distributed an advisory to priests, parish directors and archdiocesan personnel on Monday discounting the rumors.
According to his release, rumors have been circulating in the Latino community concerning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE – formerly the INS) or Homeland Security “raids” of undocumented Latinos.
“These rumors have led to growing unrest throughout the Spanish-speaking community,” wrote Fr. Stiefvater. In comments to your Catholic Herald, Fr. Stiefvater said fears of raids interrupted a Mass at a southside parish on Sunday and kept most employees away from work at a company in the southern part of the diocese.
“To the best of our knowledge, they appear to be rumors,” wrote Fr. Stiefvater. “Both Pedro Martinez (archdiocesan coordinator of Hispanic Pastoral Services) and I have gone to the places where these were alleged to have taken place — Laundromats, stores and southside Milwaukee churches — and have found nothing.”
The rumors, however, caused more than half of the worshippers at Prince of Peace’s 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass to leave following Fr. Stephen Forest’s homily, said pastor Fr. James Dammeir. Fr. Dammeir told your Catholic Herald that while Mass was being celebrated, he received a phone call from someone at St. Adalbert Parish who told him that three “official-looking people” identifying themselves as Homeland Security had approached the sacristan at St. Adalbert requesting admittance. The sacristan denied the request.
When Fr. Dammeir learned of the visit, he interrupted the Mass at Prince of Peace to let his parishioners know and to give them the option of leaving.
At least half of the more than 1,000 people in attendance left, said Fr. Dammeir, explaining he doesn’t regret informing the parishioners even though the threat didn’t materialize.
“I need to put the people first,” he said.
Fr. Dammeir said rumors of impending raids were rampant in the community last weekend, with people believing that the popular El Rey grocery stores and Wal-Mart were to be targets. Again, he stressed nothing materialized from the rumors, although he heard that one man was detained in front of an El Rey store.
Fr. Dammeir suspects recent raids in Ohio helped fueled the local rumors.
“This is so evil,” he said of the rumors, likening them to crying fire in a crowded building. “People are on edge, living in fear.”
In the memo, Fr. Stiefvater encouraged leaders to advise their parishioners not to be afraid to attend church functions and to continue to send their children to school. |
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