I recently did a simple Google search of the topic "Migration viewed by religious preference," and it produced some interesting results.

Immigration enforcement views are deeply polarized by religion, with white Evangelical Protestants (65%) and white Catholics (51%) showing the highest support for strict measures, including raids at sensitive locations such as churches, schools and hospitals, and even mass detention. Only 33% of the general population, however, is in favor of such conduct by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

I began writing these articles, now numbering over 50, to educate our Catholic population on the facts of migration. My hope was to change the opinions of my readers by reflecting upon Catholic social teaching and a careful review of the facts. Nevertheless, discouragement rarely leads to productive change. I will try to understand the reticence or the opposition of some faithful Catholics to embracing the views expounded by our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, as well as his predecessors, our bishops and thoughtful Catholics knowledgeable of long-standing Catholic social teaching.

Recently, in Congress, there was a debate regarding religious views and immigration enforcement. It was begun by remarks from Speaker of the House Michael Johnson stating that the Bible supports mass deportations, referencing a line from St. Paul's epistle to the Romans: "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities." His reasoning was a bit more complex. However, it is encapsulated in a single biblical sentence.

In response, Rep. Rosa DeLauro gathered the signatures of more than 43 Catholic House Representatives on a letter citing Church teaching and biblical support for a deeper religious understanding of migration.

Because migration is such a complex social phenomenon, people of goodwill can have diverse opinions. Some argue that prudential judgments are needed to address complex social issues. Prudential judgments, however, need to be based on the facts that enjoy general support. That has been my task in these articles -- to present fact-based information on this complex social issue that confronts our nation.

Another layer of arguments engendered by Christian nationalism has supported different reasons for immigration restriction. The thesis of Christian nationalism is that the United States was founded as a Christian country. However, there is little reference to the fact that the Judeo-Christian ethic has been the guiding principle of the Founding Fathers since our nation's inception. Some Christian nationalists claim a nation is not Christian unless most residents are Christians and that biblical principles guide its laws.

Therefore, as the reasoning goes, the limitation of non-Christian immigrants is preferable or even necessary to preserve a Christian nation. Unfortunately, this reasoning very much resembles the Ku Klux Klan's platform and influence on the restrictive Immigration Act of 1924, aimed against Southern and Eastern European Catholics entering the United States. We see that even the notion of Christianity must be well defined before we embrace any kind of nationalism associated with religion.

Pope Leo has made famous the term "the globalization of powerlessness." In our day and age, we are subject to a 24-hour news cycle in which every problem worldwide is presented to us in rapid succession. It seems easy to forget so quickly the fallout from the war in Gaza, the continuing conflict in Iran, southern Lebanon and most of the Gulf States. There is a feeling and attitude of powerlessness that overwhelms us.

The problem of migration enforcement is on our doorstep, and, unfortunately, the idea of compassion as being unattainable has damaged our will to understand international and national events better. This is especially seen when we feel we can do nothing, or little, to remedy these many issues that confront us.

As informed Catholics and citizens of our great nation, our first duty is to know what the issues are, and, secondly, to do whatever is possible to influence positive outcomes that conform to our faith's understanding of the many social issues of our day.

- - - Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is the retired bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. He writes the column "Walking With Migrants" for The Tablet and OSV News.