Students and parishioners met with legislators to share concerns, personal stories
JEFFERSON CITY — Four Catholic high school students, easily identifiable in their plaid skirts, strode confidently through the Missouri State Capitol hallways. They were ready to take their civics and theology lessons out of the classroom and into legislators’ offices.
Harper Searcy, Lilly Buster and Gabriela Mendoza, all juniors at Nerinx Hall, and Sydney Moore, a senior at St. Joseph’s Academy, were part of a group from the Archdiocese of St. Louis participating in Hispanic Capitol Day on Feb. 17.
Hispanic Capitol Day is an annual, nonpartisan event organized by the St. Louis nonprofit Hispanic Leaders Group to raise awareness of issues important to Missouri’s Hispanic community. This year, about 200 participants gathered to hear from Hispanic leaders around the state and to meet with lawmakers to discuss specific bills filed this session and to share their own experiences and concerns.
Three bills they discussed were:
• Opposing SB1070, a bill modifying several immigration enforcement provisions that would include the creation of a “bounty hunter” program and the identification of property owned by the state that could be used for a detention center.
• Supporting HB2522, which would expand professional licensure to anyone with federal employment authorization.
• Supporting HB2063, which would require the Secretary of State to provide all printed materials in Spanish, upon request.
As the archdiocesan participants fanned out throughout the Capitol, they brought information about the legislation (all of which is in early stages of the legislative process), as well as broader concerns and personal stories. Immigration-related issues were at the forefront, with a focus on human dignity.
Catholics have a responsibility to speak up for the protection and value of all life, including immigrants or others who are especially vulnerable right now, Lilly said.
“It’s simple biblical teaching: Love your neighbor as yourself,” she said.
The seven tenets of Catholic social teaching that Sydney learned in theology class inform how she approaches issues.
“There’s the life and dignity of the human person, recognizing that every single life, because it is God-given, has worth and meaning,” she said. “And also the preferential option for the poor: We have a responsibility as Catholics to look out for those in need, and that cannot always necessarily just be a charity standpoint; it has be an act of solidarity. It has to be you saying, I’ll take your struggle into my hands, and we’ll work on it together.”
Emily Roth, principal of St. Cecilia School in St. Louis, made the trip to Jefferson City to advocate for the families she ministers to every day, she said.
“It is important to me that lawmakers understand the many contributions Hispanic families make — to our parishes, our schools, our workforce and our neighborhoods,” Roth said. “At a time when misinformation can create fear or division, I believe our responsibility is to listen, to learn and to lead with truth.”
Guadalupe Hilario was among a handful of students from the Catholic Student Center at Washington University in St. Louis who came with the archdiocesan group.
“With everything going on in politics and the polarization we see every day, I think it’s important to create unity and stand up for each other, and that means coming together, talking about policy, understanding the reality of the world around us,” she said.
She was looking forward to sharing her experience as the daughter of immigrants as she got ready to visit lawmakers.
“I hope they listen to our stories,” she said. “I think most of the time, immigrants are perceived as something negative or as criminals, but in reality, they’re just everyday people that are fighting for their rights, for an opportunity of life, and most importantly, giving back to their children.”
As the group prepared to board the bus home, Nerinx student Gabriela said she hoped to return to the Capitol someday. She was nervous before meeting with legislators for the first time, but the event helped her realize that even as a high schooler, she can engage with the people who represent her.
“I’ve always thought of politics on a federal, nationwide level,” she said. “I kind of forget how much impact you can make in your state or very locally, in your neighborhood, in your city.”
