The Rev. Guillermo Treviño Jr., co-chair of Escucha Mi Voz (Listen to My Voice) Iowa, a Gamaliel affiliate and CCHD grantee, said CCHD funding has helped “empower a lot of people, train new leaders, not just in my parish, but the community, and most importantly, to learn for them to speak up for themselves.”
Most recently, Escucha Mi Voz took nuns and parishioners to Des Moines, Iowa’s capital, to pray during a federal court hearing about a new state law that would allow state and local officials to deport immigrants who had previously been deported or entered the U.S. illegally.
“It’s helped my parishioners learn about their rights and know how to speak up and defend themselves,” said Treviño.
The bishops’ conference has yet to clarify what comes next for organizations whose grant decisions have been delayed.
Treviño urged decision-makers to fund CCHD grantees at the expected level this year and delay any changes until next year, especially with a new fiscal year beginning July 1.
“The funding that was promised should be contributed because that’s what they had planned,” he said.
Garcia-Ashley said she doesn’t have an inside track to the Louisville discussions to find out what’s being decided for CCHD’s future. But the organizer said she’s nevertheless committed to prayer.
“I have faith in my leaders. I have faith in my church.”
Jack Jenkins contributed reporting for this story.
This article originally appeared here.
