Catholic Church Resettles Nearly 18,000 Refugees in 2008; Largest Resettlement Effort...

Catholic Church Resettles Nearly 18,000 Refugees in 2008; Largest Resettlement
Effort in United States

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Catholic Church resettled
17,823 refugees in 2008, through Migration and Refugee Services of the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB/MRS) and its network of diocesan
entities, representing 30 percent of the total refugees admitted to the
nation. Overall, the U.S. government admitted 60,192 refugees during the
fiscal year that ended September 30.

This number represents a 31 percent increase over last year in the number of
cases handled by MRS. In 2007, MRS resettled 13,631 of 48,281 refugees or 28
percent of all refugees admitted into the United States.

Generally, the largest percentage of refugees arrive in the United States
during the last three months of the federal fiscal year, July thorough
September. This so-called "bulge" creates an enormous impact and strain on the
service capacity of receiving dioceses.

"Despite this situation, the diocesan staff, parishes, and other community
entities involved in their resettlement once again went above and beyond the
call of duty to help refugees build new lives," said Johnny Young, executive
director of MRS.

In 2008, MRS resettled people from 45 countries. The largest groups came from
Burma, Iraq, Cuba, Bhutan, Burundi, Somalia, Iran, Vietnam, Congo, and
Liberia.

The Church is especially proud of its "Unaccompanied Minor" program. Ten
dioceses -- including Galveston-Houston, Texas; Jackson, Miss.; Miami;
Phoenix; Richmond, Va.; Rochester, N.Y.; San Jose, Calif.; Salt Lake City;
Seattle and Syracuse, NY -- found foster care placement for 190 unaccompanied
children, plus 43 other children that have not yet arrived on U.S. soil. This
was well beyond the 50 children expected in a typical year.

"Both of these situations provide a strong testament to the Church's
unwavering commitment to welcome the newcomer regardless of the circumstances
that bring them to our land," Young said. USCCB has consistently advocated for
increasing the number of refugee admissions into the United States.

Refugee arrivals to the United States have been on an upward trend for the
past several years, after coming to a significant reduction in refugee
admissions after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. All indications are that
the next fiscal year will continue this trend.

SOURCE United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Mar Munoz-Visoso of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, O:
+1-202-541-3202, M: +1-301-646-8616