Archbishop Gomez urges calm and restraint as ICE protests erupt in Los Angeles
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Waymo cars are set on fire and vandalized during a protest against immigration raids on June 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. / Credit: Nick Ut/Getty ImagesCNA Staff, Jun 9, 2025 / 17:38 pm (CNA).Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, the nation's largest Catholic community, issued a statement calling for "restraint and calm" as tensions in Los Angeles escalated over the weekend after protests sparked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of unauthorized immigrants turned violent."I am troubled by today's immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles, and I am praying for our community," Gomez said in a statement issued June 6."We all agree that we don't want undocumented immigrants who are known terrorists or violent criminals in our communities. But there is no need for the government to carry out enforcement actions in a way that provokes fear and anxiety among ordinary, hardworking immigrants and their families."In his stament, Gomez called on Congress to fix t...
Waymo cars are set on fire and vandalized during a protest against immigration raids on June 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. / Credit: Nick Ut/Getty Images
CNA Staff, Jun 9, 2025 / 17:38 pm (CNA).
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, the nation's largest Catholic community, issued a statement calling for "restraint and calm" as tensions in Los Angeles escalated over the weekend after protests sparked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of unauthorized immigrants turned violent.
"I am troubled by today's immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles, and I am praying for our community," Gomez said in a statement issued June 6.
"We all agree that we don't want undocumented immigrants who are known terrorists or violent criminals in our communities. But there is no need for the government to carry out enforcement actions in a way that provokes fear and anxiety among ordinary, hardworking immigrants and their families."
In his stament, Gomez called on Congress to fix the country's "broken" immigration system.
The unrest, which began on June 6 in response to ICE raids at multiple work sites, escalated after the arrest of David Huerta, president of the California chapter of the Service Employees International Union, who allegedly blocked the path of ICE vehicles.
Videos showed crowds surrounding vans, chanting, and growing in number as the protests extended into the night. Demonstrations intensified on Saturday, with protesters gathering outside the detention facility where Huerta was being held after his release from the hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained during his demonstration and subsequent arrest.
On Sunday, the situation worsened as California Highway Patrol used flash-bang grenades to clear Highway 101 after protesters blocked the roadway, throwing debris, including tree branches and fireworks, at police vehicles below.
Sunday night saw further chaos, with protesters setting multiple Waymo driverless taxis on fire, throwing rocks at officers, and defacing neighborhoods with anti-ICE graffiti.
A candlelight interfaith prayer vigil scheduled for Sunday evening at Los Angeles City Hall, organized by the archdiocese's Immigration Task Force and groups like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Central American Resource Center, and LA Voice, was postponed out of caution due to the escalating violence.
The groups issued a statement reaffirming their call for nonviolence and pledged to reschedule the vigil when conditions stabilize.
President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard on Saturday night, citing local leaders' failure to control the situation. Gov. Gavin Newsom fiercely opposed the move, calling it a breach of state sovereignty. On Monday, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its decision to federalize the California National Guard.
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Venerable Enrique Shaw. / Credit: Acdeano, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsBuenos Aires, Argentina, Jun 21, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).The cause for canonization of Venerable Enrique Shaw, an Argentine husband, father, and businessman remembered for his vocation of service and his close ties to the working class, took another step forward at the Vatican this week.In January, the miracle attributed to his intercession passed a medical review of its authenticity, and on June 17 the commission of theologians also unanimously approved it, the vice postulator of the cause, Bishop Santiago Olivera, confirmed to the AICA news agency."The cause of Enrique Shaw has already passed the initial stage of medical consultation, and now the theological experts, who are studying the prayers addressed to the 'candidate' and their fruits, have expressed their unanimous opinion this Tuesday regarding the prayer asking for the grace of healing," the prelate explained, encouraging people to continue ...
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The pope told the political leaders that "natural law, which is universally valid apart from and above other more debatable beliefs, constitutes the compass by which to take our bearings in legislating and acting." / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Jun 21, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).Pope Leo urged political leaders from around the world to promote the common good, warning especially of the threat to human dignity from artificial intelligence (AI). AI "will certainly be of great help to society, provided that its employment does not undermine the identity and dignity of the human person and his or her fundamental freedoms," the pope said on June 21 to legislators from 68 countries gathered at the Vatican for the Jubilee of Governments. "It must not be forgotten that artificial intelligence functions as a tool for the good of human beings, not to diminish them, not to replace them," Leo said, speaking in English to the international audience. &...
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The outside of Guaranteed Rate Field, where the Chicago White Sox baseball team plays. / Credit: Spirit Juice StudiosCNA Staff, Jun 21, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).From popping a wheelie in front of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home to sitting in "the pope's chair" at a favorite local pizzeria, filmmaker Rob Kaczmark appeared to be enjoying every stop along a tour of Pope Leo's childhood stomping grounds in a new short film released by Spirit Juice, a Catholic production company.The film, which Kaczmark called "a tribute to a South Side kid who made it all the way to the Vatican," is now available on YouTube."I'm still in awe of the fact that Pope Leo is from here. He's one of us," Kaczmark says in the film. "No matter where you're from, God can use you. You just have to be open to his call." CEO and President of Spirit Juice Studios Rob Kaczmark films outside of St. Rita of Cascia High School, the high school were Pope Leo XIV taught math. Credit: Spirit Juice StudiosThe filmmaker,...
