Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/archbishop-discusses-church-stance-on-immigration Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Story Transcript The first in a series on immigration in the United States features Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, who is conducting a series of townhall meetings in northern Colorado to explain the Church’s position on immigration. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JIM LEHRER: And finally tonight, the launch of "Immigration Insights," a series of six conversations about an issue that has been on the front burner of debate for months here in this country. Just today, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Hispanics now account for more than 14 percent of household populations in the U.S., with big increases particularly in the Midwest and New England.Our conversations are with people involved in immigration issues every day. Ray Suarez begins. RAY SUAREZ: We're joined by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver. He's conducting a series of town hall meetings in northern Colorado to explain the church's position on immigration.Archbishop Chaput, welcome.CHARLES CHAPUT, Archbishop of Denver: Thank you, Ray. I'm glad to be with you. RAY SUAREZ: Well, what are you telling people at these town halls? What is the church's position in the current immigration debates? CHARLES CHAPUT: Well, in the particular format we're using, I'm asking people to be very thoughtful and reflective before jumping to conclusions or arriving at positions.I think that, right now, the most important thing for us to do as a church is educate our people about the principles underlying public policy and encourage them to be active in talking to their own legislators about doing something to make sure that we handle this problem in a way that respects the dignity of individuals and the common good of our country. RAY SUAREZ: What is it about this issue that pulls the church in, in the first place, makes the church feel that it should be involved on this one? CHARLES CHAPUT: The church has a long tradition of social justice teaching. And one of the things we reflect on as a church — and we've done this for years — is the issue of immigration.We believe that people have a right to a living wage in their own country. They have a right to have secure homes in the places where they live. But if people are unable to support themselves and their families, there's also a right to immigrate.And we also believe that each country has a right to secure borders and to orderly immigration principles and policies, but making all that fit together is a difficult task that requires reflection. And we think a comprehensive approach to this is what's really important.