Human dignity is the core principle for my campaign. This concept provides a unified, consistent foundation for actions and policies related to issues directly relevant to House District 10, and Senate District 6, specifically the death penalty and basic human rights for all prisoners, regardless of whether they are in jail, prison, or immigration detention facilities. Unfortunately, we also see that government abuses against human dignity in any one area are often indicative of abuses wherever power is held. In this section, we address the abuse against those who are designated illegal immigrants.
The absolutely clear position of this campaign is that any person taken into custody, detained, imprisoned or deported must be treated with basic human dignity. This treatment of detainees and prisoners must be accountable and transparent. Any prisoner must be correctly identified. locatable and accessible for welfare checks and communication in accordance with US Law and international agreements.
Providing moral leadership on this topic is Bishop Pohlmeier, of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine, who releases this statement on immigration: Beyond Borders: A Call to Christian Compassion
The Bishop writes a second statement on immigration because he finds that “many Catholics respond to their bishops along political party lines rather than from the heart of the Gospel.”
I note that the bishop’s statements are especially salient for District 10 as the district is home to the established Baker County Detention Center in Macclenny and the proposed “Deportation Deport” to be located in the old Baker Correctional Institution outside of Lake City.
Bishop Pohlmeier challenges us with 3 key points.
- “In every person, we must begin with the recognition that they are made in the image and likeness of God.”
- “Decisions about detention centers and immigartion policy must begin with an understanding of human dignity and compassion.”
- “Each of us must look in the mirror and ask whether our standard for compassion reflects the Gospel.”
The full statement can be found here:
