RNS Morning Report - From court to cell, two Catholic sisters follow immigrants wherever ICE takes them

Beyond accompaniment In March, RNS reporter Aleja Hertzler-McCain traveled to El Paso, Texas, to shadow two Catholic sisters as they accompanied detained migrants and their families in immigration court. Part of the Scalabrinian religious community, which focuses on serving migrants, Sisters Leticia Gutiérrez Valderrama and Elisete Signor have built a comprehensive ministry and network of volunteers that has accompanied more than 1,000 people in immigration court since last June — and has continued to work with hundreds more in detention centers, as well as their families. “I go because he is a human being. He is a migrant who is, at this moment, possibly lonely, depressed, scared,” Signor told Hertzler-McCain in March as they waited to visit a detained Sudanese migrant. When Signor emerged from the visit, she came back with a task: “He likes crosswords, and I’m going to buy him one tomorrow.” Read Hertzler-McCain’s full profile of the two sisters and their work to mobilize care for immigrants in their diocese. Top Stories In El Paso, two Catholic sisters follow detained immigrants wherever ICE takes them EL PASO (RNS) — Though faith groups across the country are accompanying immigrants in court and detention centers, the integrated system built by the Scalabrinian sisters for the Diocese of El Paso is rare. Israel apologizes after barring cardinal from Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Israeli authorities apologized after barring Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, an incident that drew sharp criticism from global leaders and church officials. Pope Leo reshuffles top Vatican posts, tapping new chief of staff VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Nearly a year into his pontificate, Leo is tightening his grip on the Vatican, elevating low-profile diplomats and sidelining a top official linked to past financial turmoil. Israelis adapt Passover plans to wartime restrictions, access to bomb shelters JERUSALEM (RNS) — In much of the country, schools are closed, and no more than 50 people are permitted to gather in any one location — including houses of worship and even schools. His arrest went viral. Now Rev. Michael Woolf is preaching what he calls ‘Sanctuary values.’ (RNS) — The photo of his arrest during a protest against ICE has given the Chicago-area pastor a platform to share a theology that centers immigrants and that harkens back to the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980's. Opinion Christian nationalists are panicking because religious progressives are thriving  (RNS) — Christian nationalists' preferred framing of American politics as 'secular left vs. Christian' is false. Israel’s defense for closing Holy Week sites in Jerusalem takes a new twist (RNS) — Even the Trump administration's ambassador called barring the Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday 'difficult to understand.' ICYMI Is there a Catholic revival? Pope Leo seems to think so. MONACO (RNS) — As 70 new catechumens are preparing for baptism in the tiny country, Pope Leo pointed to a growing — if uneven — interest in Catholicism among young people across Europe and beyond. ‘Pharaoh does not win’: An interfaith vigil kicks off NYC’s ‘No Kings’ march NEW YORK (RNS) — Just ahead of Passover and Holy Week, clergy invoked the biblical stories of liberation and resistance to mobilize faithful ahead of the city's march. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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