US Catholic church elects new leader and condemns Trump's deportation policy

At their annual meeting in Baltimore, American Roman Catholic bishops elected a new head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops amid growing divisions over deportation policies and the protection of migrants’ rights.

The new president of the organization is Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, known as a conservative theologian and advocate for a more active stance on social issues.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Texas was elected vice president. Flores has long worked with communities along the Mexican border and has been a consistent supporter of immigrant families.

The meeting was the first under the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, who recently called on the American Catholic Church to speak out more decisively in defense of migrants. During the session, the bishops noted growing tension between the Gospel’s call to love one’s neighbor and the tougher deportation measures being implemented by Donald Trump’s administration.

Catholic leaders voiced concern over family separations during immigration raids, visa restrictions for clergy, and cases where worshippers avoid attending Mass out of fear of arrest.

The bishops prepared a special statement on immigration policy, a rare document intended to reflect the Church’s national stance on the issue.

Despite internal political differences, the vote demonstrated broad unity on the need for humane treatment of migrants. Archbishop Coakley, the newly elected president, stated that the Catholic Church will continue to defend "the dignity of every human being, regardless of status or origin."

Pope Leo XIV recently held a nearly three-hour meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse from Belgium, during which participants shared the lasting trauma they continue to experience.