Church members singled out the Trump administration's "tolerance for white supremacist terrorism."

St. William parishioners called for changes to immigration policy and reunification of families

Church leaders around the U.S.have called Jesus a "refugee" who taught others to care for foreigners

Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz said St. William's declaration is supported by the archdiocese

In some ways, not a lot has changed in the 118 years that St. William Catholic Church has stood at the corner of 13th and Oak streets.

There's still the brick structure that is filled on Sundays. There's still the frequent rumble of freight trains on the Paducah and Louisville Railway tracks to the west.

And St. William, which was founded in 1901 to serve Irish immigrants working in the nearby railroad yards, continues to provide support for migrants and refugees.

But while standing out on the church's front steps Tuesday morning, leaders said some things surrounding immigration in the United States today have changed, driven in large part by the policies and rhetoric of President Donald Trump.

In light of that, parishioners, joined by other local church leaders and groups, packed the steps outside the church Tuesday to reaffirm their identity as a "sanctuary congregation" that rejects the "increasingly racist rhetoric" of the Trump administration.

Earlier:Lashing out at Trump, Catholic church says it will declare 'sanctuary' status

St. William members took turns reading out loud parts of a public statement that singled out the Trump administration's "tolerance for white supremacist terrorism and encouragement of harsh enforcement by ICE and Border Patrol agents."

"When immigrants, black and brown persons, Muslims, LGBTQ persons and other communities are under attack, Christians cannot remain silent," the public statement said. "We therefore affirm our commitment to sanctuary, understood not simply as offering space in churches, but as an active praxis of solidarity.

"We commit ourselves to resist this administration's horrendous policies and rhetoric toward immigrants, and to offer ongoing and active support to immigrant-led movements for justice. We raise our voices to cry out, in the name of God, for sanctuary for all."

St. William, part of the Archdiocese of Louisville, had originally voted to become a sanctuary church in the 1980s, giving shelter to refugees fleeing political repression in El Salvador and helping them find safety in Canada.

That effort in the 1980s was part of a broader "Sanctuary Movement" that involved U.S. churches helping Central American refugees.

But another change in the decades since is that St. William said it can no longer house undocumented immigrants in an adjacent building that is now a youth retreat center.

The latest "sanctuary" declaration from St. William, instead, calls for several changes in U.S. immigration policy, including:

The "immediate closure of brutal and overcrowded detention centers at the southern border."

Reunification of families.

"Honoring the right of asylum" for those seeking safety in the U.S.

"Comprehensive immigration reform" that provides "dignified safety to the millions of undocumented persons" already living in America.

"Structural economic reforms" that "combat the root causes of poverty" that "push people to migrate in the first place" and are "driven by U.S. economic and military dominance."

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This latest declaration is part of the expanding "New Sanctuary Movement" that has grown with Trump's presence in the Oval Office. The movement is rooted in religious teachings that compel church members to care for the vulnerable. But it does not only involve housing undocumented immigrants.

Rather, as St. William members noted Tuesday, giving assistance to immigrants and refugees today can include everything from providing diapers or food to connecting undocumented immigrants with legal assistance.

Pro-immigration church leaders around the country have often called Jesus a "refugee" who taught his followers to care for foreigners and marginalized peoples.

Supporters of Trump, including many evangelicals, have responded by stating that those seeking to enter the United States and gain citizenship must follow established laws.

Trump has made immigration a signature issue as a candidate and has taken steps to follow through on his campaign promises as president, with the Republican seeking to limit immigration and build a wall along the border with Mexico, among other goals.

In September, the Trump administration announced it will reduce the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the United States to a historic low of 18,000.

Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz said in a statement that St. William's declaration is supported by the archdiocese and "longstanding efforts" by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to help immigrants and refugees.

Those recent efforts, Kurtz said, include a campaign to collect and hand-deliver postcards that express support for migrants to Kentucky's federal lawmakers and Gov. Matt Bevin.

"Especially as we celebrate Respect Life Month, I call upon all 110 parishes of the Archdiocese of Louisville to share the call of Catholic social teaching to respect the dignity of every human person, especially those vulnerable persons seeking a better life and fleeing violence and persecution," Kurtz said. "... We know that the Church and our nation is at our best when we welcome and accompany others."

Related:Bevin backs Kentucky bill that would block 'sanctuary policies'

Bevin has used immigration as an issue in his bid for reelection, with a TV ad saying his opponent, Andy Beshear, will allow "illegal immigrants to swarm our state.”

The governor has also supported legislative efforts to ban "sanctuary cities" in Kentucky.

Louisville has had an ordinance in place since 2017 that blocks LMPD officers from assisting federal agents on immigration matters unless a judge signs a warrant or there is a danger to the public.

Despite the ordinance, the Trump administration in April 2018 determined Louisville is not a sanctuary city and is not in violation of federal law, following a review by the Department of Justice.

Kurtz noted he is the grandson of Slovakian and Polish immigrants and said while Catholic leaders respect the "rights of sovereign nations to control their borders," the U.S. and other "rich and powerful nations" also have a "serious responsibility" to welcome refugees and immigrants.

St. William members said they will partner with local congregations and groups, such as the Interfaith Coalition of Immigrant Justice, La Casita Center and Mijente Louisville, to explore a "sanctuary network" that could involve several churches offering short-term shelter to persons in emergency situations.

Opinion:Bevin's TV ad on immigration appeals to voters driven by racism and fear

Local congregations supporting St. William and its sanctuary declaration include Highland Baptist Church, according to its reverend, Lauren Jones Mayfield.

"The part that is so beautiful about the new sanctuary movement is that it gives the participants the opportunity to expand the concept of holiness," Mayfield said Tuesday, noting that "sanctuary" means "holy place" in Latin.

"Yes, it is space, but it is so much more," Mayfield said. "It is love, it is welcome and it is justice to all people, who again, are made in a divine image."

As they concluded their sanctuary declaration, St. William members pointed out a permanent banner that will hang on their church's front facade.

It says, "Sanctuary For All."

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com or 502-582-7030. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.