Image Credit: Diocese of Knoxville / Facebook
Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –
Earlier this month, the Diocese of Knoxville’s Officina de Apostolado Hispano hosted a food drive to support immigrant families “who are facing fear and separation”, likely referring to those unlawfully present as ICE operations in the area have been on a recent uptick.
The event flyer, posted in both English and Spanish, asks for volunteers to help, “Share love and hope with our neighbors in need” and requests donations from the community for items like rice, beans, corn tortillas, powdered milk, fruits, eggs, chicken, hotdogs, toilet paper, and diapers.
Drop-offs were held for multiple hours on June 12-14, and a follow-up Facebook post states that, “Donated items were collected at the Diocese of Knoxville Chancery, packaged, and delivered to 60 families in need across East Tennessee.”
Local journalist and Catholic Jennifer Hay said of the food drive, “It’s one thing to help the needy regardless of immigration status. It’s quite another to broadcast the fact that you are targeting aid toward people who are here unlawfully, i.e. people who are “facing fear and separation.” (I speak Spanish and have Hispanic friends. None of them are “facing fear and separation.” They go about their days as upstanding members of our community.)
It is a violation of federal law to knowingly encourage an alien to remain in the United States unlawfully (8 U.S.C. § 1324). Unlawful immigration hurts everyone.”
This event could have come in response to a recent weeklong joint operation by ICE and local law enforcement in East Tennessee at the end of May which resulted in the arrest of over 100 illegal aliens, many with existing convictions for offenses like assault, DWI, and attempted sexual battery.
But offering support to the illegal alien community does not appear to be totally out of place for the Knoxville Diocese as several posts on the region’s official social media promote pro-immigrant and refugee sentiments and other liberal ideology.
One post congratulates a student of Saint Joseph School who placed second in the National Paulist Fathers: America 250 Essay Contest with a piece that “illustrates the struggle of and pain of the immigrant experience in America today through her own experience as a member of an immigrant family.”
Another example is their recognition of World Refugee Day, wherein the Diocese reposted a message by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “As Pope Leo XIV reminds us in Magnifica Humanitas, ‘A litmus test for social justice today is the treatment of migrants, refugees and those forced to move due to poverty, violence, climate change and environmental disasters. The way a society treats them reveals whether its sense of justice is driven by fear or by the spirit of fraternity,’” the post reads.
Other posts celebrate Juneteenth, promote Diocesan Certification classes hosted totally in Spanish, advertise a sporting event designed “to bring young adults closer to God through their love of sport!” in Spanish only, and encourage attendance at Diocese-sponsored seminars to help “introduce the science of climate change and Earth’s energy balance” to parishioners.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
And lucifer’s Catholic Charities is responsible for many illegals being here.
The Vatican; Lucifer’s home office, main branch, Mecca.