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VOICE OF THE VOICELESS AWARDSpeak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the passage of the Sensenbrenner-King bill, otherwise known as HR 4437, one of the most anti-immigrant pieces of legislation ever passed by the US House of Representatives, Annunciation House is announcing its 2007 Voice of the Voiceless Award recipient. For long-time advocacy and solidarity with immigrants and the undocumented and more recently, for his courageous stand, opposition and intention to defy HR 4437 should it be made the law of the land and for his willingness to go to prison should such defiance require it, Annunciation House will present its 2007 Voice of the Voiceless Award to Cardinal Roger Mahony on Saturday, April 14, 2007. As part of the Voice of the Voiceless event, Cardinal Mahony has consented to be the main celebrant and homilist at an outdoor mass in front of Annunciation House the early afternoon of April 14. The outdoor mass will afford the border faith community the opportunity to gather in an act of solidarity and prayer with the poor in migration, calling for the humane treatment of immigrants and just immigration reform. During its 29-year history, Annunciation House has hosted close to 90,000 refugees, immigrants, and undocumented persons from over 40 countries. The vast majority of these have been refugees who have fled the violence of political upheaval, civil wars, death squads, human rights abuses, and especially, stifling poverty. Common to all of these people has been the almost categorical absence of a viable way to find protection, redress their grievances, exert their human rights or respond to the forces that threaten their lives and those of their families. This reality gives rise to courageous people who recognize the vulnerability of the countless voiceless and accept the call to work, struggle, and witness on behalf of the oppressed poor. Through their work and actions, these individuals give voice to the poor and their profound yearning to be heard and freed. Annunciation House's Voice of the Voiceless Award recognizes the value of these voices that offer a guiding path of light in times of darkness. The Award honors the prophetic voices among us, affirms advocacy on behalf of the poor, and recognizes that such witness often comes at personal risk. Recipients live in solidarity with the poor-they advocate with those whose voices are ignored or overshadowed. The 2007 Voice of the Voiceless Award continues this tradition by recognizing Cardinal Archbishop Roger Mahony of the Los Angeles Diocese. On Ash Wednesday of 2006-before his congregation in Los Angeles and U.S. Catholics- Cardinal Mahony stated that if HR 4437 became law, he would instruct the priests in his archdiocese to disobey it. Mahony believed that legislation that criminalizes both the undocumented and those who provide humanitarian assistance to them called Christians to do the exact opposite of what Jesus has instructed them to do: "Denying aid to a fellow human being violates a law with a higher authority than Congress-the law of God" (New York Times, March 22, 2006). While Mahony received tremendous criticism for his position, he later stated, "I stand by my statement. Part of the mission of the Roman Catholic Church is to help people in need. It is our Gospel mandate, in which Christ instructs us to clothe the naked, feed the poor, and welcome the stranger" (New York Times, March 22, 2006). Mahony's statement was powerful, just, and life-giving to the millions of undocumented people in the United States. His single action hung the banner of the plight of the undocumented, drawing attention to their cry in an increasingly oppressive political environment. Mahony's action built on his long-standing commitment and ministry to peoples in immigration. As auxiliary bishop of Fresno, CA, Mahoney worked to resolve labor disputes between the United Farm Workers and growers in California. In 1985, he was appointed Archbishop of Los Angeles, where he has since launched a local immigration justice effort, The Justice for Immigrants Campaign-A Journey of Hope, in promotion of wide-scale immigration reform. His campaign now works in conjunction with the U.S. Catholic Bishops National Justice for Immigrants Campaign. Mahony's singular action among U.S. bishops has galvanized immigrants and pro-immigrant activists across the country, both in and outside of the Church. This spring's large-scale pro-immigrant demonstrations were the largest this country has seen in decades. History of the Award During its 28-year history, Annunciation House has hosted tens of thousands of refugees who have fled the violence of political upheaval, civil wars, death squads, human rights abuses, and stifling poverty in their country of origin. All of these migrants have been unable to meet their basic material needs, exert their human rights, and respond to the forces that marginalize their lives. In turn, our work at Annunciation House has been one of accompaniment, of offering these migrants food, shelter, and a willingness to listen. For we have learned that in listening to these "strangers," we learn and are changed in mind and spirit. Recipients of the Voice of the Voiceless Award similarly have listened to and responded to such a reality; they have echoed the voices of the poor they serve in a shared search for justice. Previous Recipients The experiences and courageous activism of Ruiz, Ortiz, Fife, and Mahony give voice to all those whose voices are overshadowed by violence, poverty, and oppression. These individuals truly offer prophetic voices for our times-a time when immigrants, and particularly the undocumented, are being denied a place at the table in our country and those who come to their aid are labeled criminals. For more information, contact: Ruben L Garcia |
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