The Episcopal Migration Ministry’s 2023 funding highlights the intricate blend of advocacy and financial incentives that drive its migrant resettlement efforts.
At a Glance
- The Episcopal Migration Ministry received $53 million in 2023 to resettle 3,600 migrants.
- Funding is set against social justice campaigns and opposition to former Trump-era policies.
- Critics question whether financial incentives overshadow humanitarian narratives.
- Comparative analysis with other religious organizations shows higher funding allocations.
Funding and Social Justice Advocacy
The Episcopal Migration Ministry (EMM) received $53 million in 2023 to support the resettlement of 3,600 migrants. Set against the backdrop of advocacy by Bishop Mariann Budde, known for her vocal critique of past immigration policies, this funding emphasizes the blend of social justice and financial incentive in their operations. Budde criticized Trump’s immigration policies during the Inaugural Prayer Service, calling for “mercy and compassion for immigrants,” Bishop Mariann Budde emphasized.
The relationship between financial incentives and humanitarian efforts raises questions. EMM’s operations are part of a larger system, with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities receiving much more funding for similar efforts. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services, for example, received funding exceeding $129 million in 2023.
“Planning for the end of EMM’s federally funded work, one of the church’s most prominent and respected ministries, was a ‘painful decision’,” Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said, indicating strategic shifts within the organization due to changes in federal policy.
The Episcopal Church earns commissions from collecting on travel loans made to refugees, funded by taxpayers. EMM benefits financially from resettling refugees with social or psychological difficulties, including LGBTQ status, through the “Preferred Communities” program. The narrative offered by various church organizations points to the sanctity and dignity of life as a driving factor of their mission.
So THAT’S why she lectured Trump!