Catholics across the country are now hearing their priests and bishops urging them to reform—not just their immortal souls, but immigration policy. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is promoting an extensive effort to persuade their congregations to back comprehensive immigration reform.

Although the Catholic Church has long supported pathways to citizenship and immigration reform, this campaign is, according to Kevin Appleby of the USCCB migration policy office, “taking it to another level.” When U.S. bishops work together on an issue, they wield a great deal of influence. They won’t convince every Catholic politician to take up immigration reform, but they are determined to try.