Bishop Joe Vasquez

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Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin celebrates Mass in the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas, which houses the state's female death row, on Dec. 1, 2023.

Austin bishop celebrates special Mass in Texas prison for female death row inmates

Dec 5, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The Mass, which took place at the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas, was part of a three-day conference... Read more

Texas State Capitol building in Austin.

Austin cuts police budget, increases abortion funding

Aug 19, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

The Diocese of Austin has condemned the Austin City Council’s decision to increase funding for abortion access in the city... Read more

Protests against President Trump's plan to end DACA, Sept. 5, 2017.

As SCOTUS hears DACA arguments, bishop calls for congressional action

Nov 13, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

The USCCB’s migration committee chairman hopes that Congress can come to a solution regarding the situation of Deferred Action for... Read more

Hiking trail along the US-Mexico border.

Trump administration finalizes refugee cap at lowest level ever

Nov 4, 2019

The White House on Sunday finalized its quota of refugee admissions for the 2020 fiscal year, cutting the cap on... Read more

Refugees with children. Stock photo/Shutterstock

Bishops and Catholic Charities condemn new federal refugee limits

Sep 27, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

Catholic leaders and organizations have condemned an announcement by the Trump administration that it intends to cap the number of refugees admitted to... Read more

Austin bishop saddened by city's intention financially to support abortion

Sep 17, 2019

Last week the Austin City Council voted to provide funding for costs associated with abortion, a move that was protested... Read more

Image of a U.S. permanent residency card. Via Shutterstock

New green card rule undermines family unity, bishops say

Aug 13, 2019

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has voiced opposition to a new “public charge” policy that could deny visas and... Read more

US bishops say reported shutdown of refugee program is 'disturbing'

Jul 22, 2019

If reports of major cuts to the U.S. refugee resettlement and asylum programs are true they are alarming, the chair... Read more

Concept image, illegal migration from Mexico to the United States. Via Shutterstock

House passes emergency border funding, Trump threatens veto

Jun 26, 2019

The House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday night to provide emergency funding for the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.   Read more

Crowds at a town hall meeting on immigration in Los Angeles, January 2014. Photo courtesy of Victor Aleman/vida-nueva.com

US bishops thank House for approving immigration bill

Jun 5, 2019

The chairman of the US bishops' migration committee welcomed Tuesday a vote in the House of Representatives passing a bill... Read more

Don’t deport people who don’t deserve it, Catholic bishops tell Senate

Apr 11, 2019

American residents deserve permanent legal protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship if they came to the U.S. as... Read more

President Donald Trump, pictured at a press conference in 2018.

Bishops 'deeply concerned' by Trump border emergency declaration

Feb 15, 2019

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement Feb. 15 opposing President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national... Read more

El Salvadoran boy.

Don’t cut vital services to immigrants with new DHS rule, bishops plead

Sep 25, 2018

Immigrants and their families will suffer great harm if long-standing policies are changed by the Department of Homeland Security to... Read more

Bishops stand with 'Dreamers' as DACA battles continue

Jan 10, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Catholic leaders have responded to developments in the legal battle over the DACA program, including a court order maintaining legal... Read more

Bishop: Trump's immigration principles will harm the vulnerable

Oct 10, 2017

By Matt Hadro

After US President Donald Trump asked Congress to pass stricter immigration laws if they plan to grant legal status to... Read more

Crowds attend a town hall meeting on immigration in Los Angeles, Jan. 14, 2014. Photo courtesy of Victor Aleman/vida-nueva.com.

Bishops disappointed as Trump administration ends migration program for minors

Aug 22, 2017

By Matt Hadro

After the Trump administration ended a parole program for young migrants from Central America, the head of the U.S. bishops’... Read more