Latest news with #Wenski
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami archbishop asks to hold Mass at Alligator Alcatraz. ‘Still waiting' for answer
Miami's top Catholic leader stopped by the state's controversial Everglades detention center for migrants during a Sunday motorcycle ride with dozens of other Catholic bikers. Archbishop Thomas Wenski visited 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Florida's new migrant detention center located in an isolated airstrip near the Big Cypress National Preserve, to pray for for detainees. But the entrance of the facility is as far as he was able to go without approval from officials. 'Sunday PM about 25 Knights on Bikes stopped at entrance of Alligator Alcatraz and prayed a rosary for the detainees,' Wenski wrote on a post on X. 'Archdiocese is still waiting for approval to access to provide Mass for detainees.' Officials at the Archdiocese said they are still awaiting a response from the facility to allow chaplains and clergy to visit and 'offer spiritual care, the sacraments, and the healing presence of Christ to those in detention.' Wenski, who recently denounced the detention center, was joined by around 25 'Knights on Bikes,' a charitable Catholic men's ministry within the Knights of Columbus organization, and shared photos and videos of the pastoral excursion. The Archdiocese of Miami called the visit 'a powerful moment of prayerful solidarity,' that reflects the organization's 'ongoing commitment to ministering to the marginalized and incarcerated.' '...Decency requires that we remember the individuals being detained are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of distressed relatives,' Wenski said in a statement. 'We wish to ensure that chaplains and pastoral ministers can serve those in custody, to their benefit and that of the staff.' Sunday's motorcycle visit is the second act of solidarity the Catholic church has shown in recent weeks to oppose Florida's crackdown on deportations. In a prior statement, Wenski said it was 'alarming to see enforcement tactics that treat all irregular immigrants as dangerous criminals.' In the strongly word column posted to the Archdiocese of Miami's website earlier this month, Wenski said 'the apparent lack of due process in deportation proceedings in recent months,' was surprising and called the rhetoric surrounding the 'Alligator Alcatraz' 'intentionally provocative.' Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials have repeatedly defended conditions for detainees at the pop-up migrant camp. Earlier this month, Stephanie Hartman, a spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said detainees' stories about problems at the facility — including toilets that don't flush, large bugs and temperatures that fluctuate from icy to sweltering — were inaccurate. 'The reporting on the conditions in the facility is completely false,' Hartman told the Herald. 'The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order.' This story will be updated. This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami's top Catholic leader denounces ‘intentionally provocative' Alligator Alcatraz
The Archbishop of Miami has some strong words about Florida's new detention center for migrants in the Everglades. In a statement posted to the Archdiocese of Miami website, Archbishop Thomas Wenski condemned Alligator Alcatraz, calling it 'alarming' and 'unbecoming of public officials.' 'It is alarming to see enforcement tactics that treat all irregular immigrants as dangerous criminals,' he wrote. Wenski, Miami's top Catholic leader, also criticized the rhetoric surrounding the facility calling it 'intentionally provocative' and 'corrosive of the common good.' 'It is unbecoming of public officials and corrosive of the common good to speak of the deterrence value of 'alligators and pythons' at the Collier-Dade facility,' Wenski wrote. Located in an idle airstrip near the Big Cypress National Preserve that the DeSantis administration seized from Miami-Dade County using emergency powers, the detention facility is surrounded by wild life and wild lands, which officials have joked could deter undocumented immigrants from escaping. Gov. Ron DeSantis has said in the past that the location — a hot, swampy environment filled with alligators and pythons — could send a message to undocumented immigrants. 'They ain't going anywhere once they are there... because good luck getting to civilization,' DeSantis said at a news conference when the facility first opened last month. He then quipped: 'The security is amazing. Natural and otherwise.' Wenski, in the statement, also criticized the conditions of the facility, raising concerns about the isolated location, which is far from hospitals, and the ability of the 'temporary tent structures' to withstand extreme Florida temperatures and thunderstorms. A recent story from the Miami Herald outlined the harsh conditions of the facility, including pests, extreme temperatures and unsanitary living conditions. The testimonies were relayed to the Herald by the detainees' families, though the state contends they aren't accurate. The DeSantis administration has pushed back on the criticism, telling CNN that the same tents have been used to house those displaced by natural disasters and can withstand Florida's extreme elements. DeSantis, who is a Catholic, recently told Fox News, that the temporary facility is meant to be a center to process and deport illegal immigrants, and that the quality is being exaggerated by his political opponents. 'We did not create the Four Seasons, that's not the intent of this.' DeSantis told Fox News. 'Alligator Alcatraz is going to enhance the ability of the federal government to do more deportations of illegal aliens and that's what people want to see. That's what a lot of us voted for,' he said. Wenski's criticism of the detention facility, which was built in eight days and expected to cost $450 million for one year of operation, is joined by Democratic lawmakers in Florida and environmental advocacy groups. On Thursday, five Democratic lawmakers sued the governor and others after being turned away from Alligator Alcatraz last week. The lawmakers are asking the Florida Supreme Court to force the DeSantis administration to allow unannounced visits to the migrant detention center in the Everglades. Catholic bishops have long been advocates for reforming the United States' 'broken' immigration system, Wenski wrote in the statement. He added that 'most immigrants are hardworking and honest and only want to build a hopeful future for themselves and their families.' Wenski also suggested that it would be more 'financially sensible' to 'expand legal pathways for non-criminal migrants,' rather than continue the current process under the Trump administration, which is costing billions of dollars to deport people 'who are already contributing positively to our nation's well-being,' he wrote. In the statement, Wenski pleaded for people to remember their humanity when thinking about the detainees, the majority of whom are not violent criminals. 'Common decency requires that we remember the individuals being detained are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of distressed relatives,' he said. Wenski concluded by asking people to pray for the government officials and those in immigration custody and their families. He asked people to pray for justice in a nation 'whose prosperity immigrants have always contributed to.' This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
NBC News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Miami archbishop slams Everglades immigrant detention site as 'unbecoming' and ‘corrosive'
The Archdiocese of Miami is condemning Florida's controversial migrant detention facility — which state officials have named 'Alligator Alcatraz' — calling it 'unbecoming of public officials' and 'corrosive of the common good.' In a strongly worded statement posted to the Archdiocese's website, Archbishop Thomas Wenski criticized both the conditions at the remote detention site in the Everglades and the rhetoric surrounding it. He wrote: 'It is unbecoming of public officials and corrosive of the common good to speak of the deterrence value of 'alligators and pythons' at the Collier-Dade facility.' Wenski's statement also highlighted humanitarian concerns, noting the isolation of the facility from medical care and the vulnerability of the temporary tent structures to Florida's harsh summer weather and hurricane threats. He also called for chaplains and ministers to be granted access to serve those in custody. Meanwhile, a group of Democratic state lawmakers has filed a lawsuit against the state after being denied entry to the site last week. The complaint argues they are legally entitled to 'immediate, unannounced access' to the facility. 'We weren't looking for a sanitized field trip,' said State Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-District 34). 'If [the allegations are] false, prove it. Show it.' NBC6 has been reporting on detainees' and family members' allegations of "inhumane conditions": limited access to showers, spoiled food, extreme heat, and mosquito infestations. The state has categorically denied these claims. Lawmakers were later invited to a scheduled, 90-minute guided tour of the facility — but some say that's not sufficient to ensure transparency. Speaker of the House Danny Perez (R) defended the facility, stating, 'It's not a five-star hotel nor should it be a five-star resort. This is a detention center holding criminals.' Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has also requested access to the site. Her office says she is still waiting for a response, emphasizing that the property is located on county land. The legal battle and public outcry add new urgency to the debate over immigration enforcement in Florida and the use of isolated, heavily guarded detention sites.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Totally stunned.' New pope a happy shock for Miami's Catholic leaders, faithful
To the joyful surprise of many Catholics across South Florida, the new pope is American — one who served the church as a missionary and bishop for decades in Peru and speaks Spanish with native fluency. Cardinal Robert Prevost — who was born in Chicago and became the first pontiff from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church — took the name Pope Leo XIV. Most Vatican City watchers had considered him a long-shot and his election, just two days into a conclave of 133 cardinals, came as an unexpected but welcome milestone for many, including Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski. 'I think most people were surprised because for years they discounted the possibility of an American being elected as Pope,' Wenski told the Miami Herald in an interview. Wenski said that Leo XIV is technically the second pope from the Americas since his beloved predecessor Pope Francis was born in Argentina. 'We shouldn't present him in a narrow fashion that he's an American Pope... he is perhaps more international than American, because he was spent most of his priesthood as a missionary in Peru.' Born in Chicago in 1955, Leo XiV was ordained in 1982 and moved to Peru three years later, working for a decade in Trujillo before being appointed bishop of Chiclayo, where he served from 2014 to 2023. He received Peruvian citizenship but frequently traveled back to his home town. Leo XIV is a member of the Augustinian religious order, a global group known for its commitment to community outreach and service. Wenski said the Leo XIII, the last pope to be called Leo, was known for his papal teachings advocating for the rights of the working class, in response to the dangers of unchecked capitalism. 'He was the first pope that elaborated on what we now call Catholic social teachings,' Wenski said about Pope Leo XIII. 'Every Pope since Leo XIII has made social encyclicals that have really influenced the church in their outreach towards what we could call justice ministries.' Wenski said that the first Leo, known as Leo the Great, famously saved Rome from being conquered by Attila the Hun. 'Perhaps, like Leo the Great he will fend off the barbarians at our gates today – or like Leo XIII continue to develop teachings on social issues – like worker rights, migration, just wages, the environment, responsibility to the poor,' Wenski wrote in an email. The choice to be called Leo and focus on social justice suggests that the new pope's leadership might continue in the direction of Francis, who was known for his commitment to service and acceptance. Ahead of the conclave, many Catholics in Miami were hoping to see the church follow Francis' legacy. READ MORE: 'Let's build bridges.' Many Miami Catholics hope conclave continues legacy of Francis Jesuit priest Guillermo García-Tuñón, known as Father 'Willie', said he was downright shocked to hear the news. 'My reaction was to be totally stunned,' said García-Tuñón, who is the president of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, 'Just leave it to the Cardinals to always throw curve balls at you. Because you have certain expectations and think of individuals who are front runners, but at the end of the day they always seem to surprise us.' García-Tuñón was in the dining hall with about 900 students when the news of the new pontiff was announced. 'It just so happened that the white smoke shows up during lunch, and then, of course, the bell rings and nobody was moving, including myself.' The students didn't understand the announcement at first, which was in Latin. But, as soon as García-Tuñón realized who it was, he ran to the microphone. 'I say to the boys, 'the guy who was elected took the name, Leo the 14th ... and he's from the United States. He's an American. And the kids started cheering. All 900 of them were cheering like if it was a hockey game.' Xiomara Méndez Hernández, executive director of the Dominican Sisters Conference, experienced the day's excitement live from the Vatican. 'It was truly a remarkable experience to be in the Vatican and receive Pope Leo's blessing in person at the Piazza,' Hernández said in an email to the Herald. She said the election resonates with 'the spirituality' of the Dominican Order, which follows the rules of Saint Augustine. 'Hearing him ask for permission to speak in Spanish brought me immense joy,' she said. 'His call for peace, justice, unity and love has renewed my hope, not only for the Church but for the entire world.' Wenski was wrapping up a mass at St. Martha's Parish when the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, signaling a new pope had been chosen. The special mass was held to offer prayers for the cardinals while they were sequestered in the conclave. 'Everybody started applauding. I said 'your prayers have been very effective,' Wenski said. As Leo XIV spoke his first words to crowds at the Vatican, he urged people to first remember Pope Francis, who died a little over two weeks ago on Easter Monday. Speaking in Italian, he told the world, 'peace be with you,' and offered his vision for a church of dialogue and missionary evangelization. 'We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue,' Leo said. Ellie Hidalgo, co-director of Discerning Deacons, a group that advocates on behalf of women's roles in the Catholic Church, also was delighted by the selection. 'I feel the overflow of grace … the Cardinals, guided by the Holy Spirit, have chosen the pope we need,' said Hidalgo. 'I just love that he is an American Pope who has spent so much time in Latin America.' Hidalgo said she had met Leo XIV, when he was still Cardinal Prevost, a few months ago in Rome. 'He quoted extensively from Pope Francis' address to deacons in Rome ... He said that St Augustine said that 'to move forward in faith, Be humble. Be humble. Be humble.'' She said that she feels the new pope is well-positioned to continue the work of Francis. The new pontiff once led the Vatican office that appoints new bishops to the pope. That administrative body included three women for the first time in history — which also gives her hope as someone who has been advocating for years for the expansion of women's leadership roles in the church. 'We thought it was wonderful ... another good sign of the growth of women's participation on important committees and important decision making tables.' This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
‘Totally stunned.' New pope a happy shock for Miami's Catholic leaders, faithful
To the joyful surprise of many Catholics across South Florida, the new pope is American — one who served the church as a missionary and bishop for decades in Peru and speaks Spanish with native fluency. Cardinal Robert Prevost — who was born in Chicago and became the first pontiff from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church — took the name Pope Leo XIV. Most Vatican City watchers had considered him a long-shot and his election, just two days into a conclave of 133 cardinals, came as an unexpected but welcome milestone for many, including Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski. 'I think most people were surprised because for years they discounted the possibility of an American being elected as Pope,' Wenski told the Miami Herald in an interview. Wenski said that Leo XIV is technically the second pope from the Americas since his beloved predecessor Pope Francis was born in Argentina. 'We shouldn't present him in a narrow fashion that he's an American Pope... he is perhaps more international than American, because he was spent most of his priesthood as a missionary in Peru.' Born in Chicago in 1955, Leo XiV was ordained in 1982 and moved to Peru three years later, working for a decade in Trujillo before being appointed bishop of Chiclayo, where he served from 2014 to 2023. He received Peruvian citizenship but frequently traveled back to his home town. Leo XIV is a member of the Augustinian religious order, a global group known for its commitment to community outreach and service. Wenski said the Leo XIII, the last pope to be called Leo, was known for his papal teachings advocating for the rights of the working class, in response to the dangers of unchecked capitalism. 'He was the first pope that elaborated on what we now call Catholic social teachings,' Wenski said about Pope Leo XIII. 'Every Pope since Leo XIII has made social encyclicals that have really influenced the church in their outreach towards what we could call justice ministries.' Wenski said that the first Leo, known as Leo the Great, famously saved Rome from being conquered by Attila the Hun. 'Perhaps, like Leo the Great he will fend off the barbarians at our gates today – or like Leo XIII continue to develop teachings on social issues – like worker rights, migration, just wages, the environment, responsibility to the poor,' Wenski wrote in an email. The choice to be called Leo and focus on social justice suggests that the new pope's leadership might continue in the direction of Francis, who was known for his commitment to service and acceptance. Ahead of the conclave, many Catholics in Miami were hoping to see the church follow Francis' legacy. READ MORE: 'Let's build bridges.' Many Miami Catholics hope conclave continues legacy of Francis 'Renewed hope' for the church Jesuit priest Guillermo García-Tuñón, known as Father 'Willie', said he was downright shocked to hear the news. 'My reaction was to be totally stunned,' said García-Tuñón, who is the president of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, 'Just leave it to the Cardinals to always throw curve balls at you. Because you have certain expectations and think of individuals who are front runners, but at the end of the day they always seem to surprise us.' García-Tuñón was in the dining hall with about 900 students when the news of the new pontiff was announced. 'It just so happened that the white smoke shows up during lunch, and then, of course, the bell rings and nobody was moving, including myself.' The students didn't understand the announcement at first, which was in Latin. But, as soon as García-Tuñón realized who it was, he ran to the microphone. 'I say to the boys, 'the guy who was elected took the name, Leo the 14th ... and he's from the United States. He's an American. And the kids started cheering. All 900 of them were cheering like if it was a hockey game.' Xiomara Méndez Hernández, executive director of the Dominican Sisters Conference, experienced the day's excitement live from the Vatican. 'It was truly a remarkable experience to be in the Vatican and receive Pope Leo's blessing in person at the Piazza,' Hernández said in an email to the Herald. She said the election resonates with 'the spirituality' of the Dominican Order, which follows the rules of Saint Augustine. 'Hearing him ask for permission to speak in Spanish brought me immense joy,' she said. 'His call for peace, justice, unity and love has renewed my hope, not only for the Church but for the entire world.' Wenski was wrapping up a mass at St. Martha's Parish when the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, signaling a new pope had been chosen. The special mass was held to offer prayers for the cardinals while they were sequestered in the conclave. 'Everybody started applauding. I said 'your prayers have been very effective,' Wenski said. As Leo XIV spoke his first words to crowds at the Vatican, he urged people to first remember Pope Francis, who died a little over two weeks ago on Easter Monday. Speaking in Italian, he told the world, 'peace be with you,' and offered his vision for a church of dialogue and missionary evangelization. 'We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue,' Leo said. Hope for expanded role for women Ellie Hidalgo, co-director of Discerning Deacons, a group that advocates on behalf of women's roles in the Catholic Church, also was delighted by the selection. 'I feel the overflow of grace … the Cardinals, guided by the Holy Spirit, have chosen the pope we need,' said Hidalgo. 'I just love that he is an American Pope who has spent so much time in Latin America.' Hidalgo said she had met Leo XIV, when he was still Cardinal Prevost, a few months ago in Rome. 'He quoted extensively from Pope Francis' address to deacons in Rome ... He said that St Augustine said that 'to move forward in faith, Be humble. Be humble. Be humble.'' She said that she feels the new pope is well-positioned to continue the work of Francis. The new pontiff was also a part of a group of cardinals that proposed new bishops to the pope, she said. That administrative body included three women, for the first time in history — which also gives her hope as someone who has been advocating for years for the expansion of women's leadership roles in the church. 'We thought it was wonderful ... another good sign of the growth of women's participation on important committees and important decision making tables.' This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
