Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, called on the assembly of bishops gathered in Baltimore on Tuesday to uphold and proclaim Church teaching on human dignity in the wake of the recent elections. 

“As the successors of the apostles and vicars of Christ in our dioceses, we never backpedal or renounce the clear teaching of the Gospel,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) president declared.

“We must insist on the dignity of the human person from womb to tomb, be unstinting in our commitment ... to see Christ in those who are most in need,” Archbishop Broglio said.

Immigration and abortion have emerged as primary topics of discussion among the bishops at the November plenary assembly following President-elect Donald Trump’s success in last week’s elections. 

On the immigration issue, Trump pledged from the beginning of his campaign that, upon election, he would carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. 

While Archbishop Broglio stated that the bishops “certainly do not encourage illegal immigration,” he reminded the assembly of their responsibility as Christians to “lift up the poor and to encourage immigration reform, while we continue to care for those in need who cross our borders.” 

“We will all have to stand before the throne of grace and hear the Lord ask us if we saw him in the hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, stranger or sick (Matthew 25:35-36) and responded to his needs,” he said.

Archbishop Broglio, who also serves as archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, stressed the importance of working together, listening to one another, and maintaining charity in spite of disagreements in order “never to forget that the other is created in the image and likeness of God.” 

“We redouble our efforts to introduce civility into everyday discourse: Christians should be catalysts for a more humane and worthy approach to daily life,” he said. “The Christian faith spread in earlier times because those looking at Christians were impressed by their love for one another. The same should be true today.”

Leading up to Nov. 5, Trump also embraced positions on abortion and in vitro fertilization that conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church. He said he would veto a national abortion ban and affirmed his belief in exceptions for instances of rape and incest and the health of the mother. He has also voiced his support for IVF treatments.

Archbishop Broglio also spoke of the election results to EWTN News last week, telling host Raymond Arroyo: “I would think certainly our preeminent concern for the dignity of the human person is one thing that would have influenced those voters.” 

He added: “I think also people are uncertain of the economy. I think that would be another factor.”

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