SALT LAKE CITY — Bishop John C. Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake City will present the annual Aquinas lecture Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at 3 p.m., at St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center, 170 South University, Salt Lake City. Bishop Wester is the chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Migration, a member of the World Mission Committee, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) liaison to Asia. He also serves on the board of directors for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The Aquinas Lecture is free and open to the public. Bishop Wester will address the position of the Catholic Church regarding undocumented immigrants, the causes that move people around the world in search of better ways of life, and the United States laws that hinder a human solution to the dilemma of unauthorized workers. Bishop Wester will frame his presentation on the long traditions of social justice, human dignity, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. To further advance the United States’ dialogue on immigration, Bishop Wester will address the issues of inclusion as it pertains to immigrants, and their incorporation within the Body of Christ, our sharing of resources, and our role as collaborators in God’s kingdom Bishop Wester served as chairman of the Northern California Ch’n/Zen-Catholic Dialogue, and in the past months has met with members of the U.S. Congress to advocate for a more humane approach to immigration. He also has visited Baptist and churches of other denominations to promote a spiritual and practical consensus on issues affecting our borders and services for members of the refugee populations. Bishop Wester’s work is deeply informed by the Christian faith that commands us to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, dress the naked, and provide caring service to the sick and injured. Bishop Wester’s statement: "No person is illegal in God’s eyes," has become an icon for the defense of unauthorized workers in the United States. For further information about the Aquinas Lecture, call Dominican Father Peter Rogers, 801-359-6066.
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