As Lenten Season Approaches, US Catholics Grapple with Faith, Advocacy, and Politics

Ash Wednesday arrives with questions for Christian critics and supporters as Trump administration's mass immigration operations continue.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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As the Lenten season approaches, US Catholics find themselves straddling their faith, advocacy, and politics. The Trump administration's continued mass immigration operations have created fear and anger among immigrant communities, their advocates, and many religious leaders. Catholic leaders are responding with pastoral care, resources, and advocacy, while some Catholics continue to support the administration's policies. The Lenten season, with its themes of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, takes on added significance as the Catholic community grapples with these complex issues.

Why it matters

The Lenten season's arrival coincides with a political and cultural battle over immigration policy playing out across the country. Catholic leaders are navigating this divide, seeking to uphold the dignity of all people while also addressing the real impacts of immigration enforcement on their communities. This story highlights the tensions within the Catholic community and the broader challenges facing the nation as it wrestles with these divisive issues.

The details

Catholic leaders in Southern California, such as Archbishop José Gomez and Isaac Cuevas of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, have responded to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions by providing pastoral care, legal support, and advocacy for immigrant families. They have also called for upholding the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of immigration status. Meanwhile, some Catholic supporters of the Trump administration, such as White House Press Secretary Katherine Leavitt, have defended the administration's policies, arguing that they are not inhumane. The story also mentions the involvement of other religious groups, such as the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, in supporting immigrant communities and confronting the administration's policies.

  • Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, falls on February 18, 2026.
  • In June 2025, the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.

The players

Archbishop José Gomez

The Archbishop of Los Angeles who has called for upholding the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of immigration status.

Isaac Cuevas

The director of immigration and public affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, who has coordinated the church's response to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions.

Katherine Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary and a practicing Roman Catholic who has defended the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Father Francisco Gómez

The pastor of Our Lady of Soledad Parish in Coachella, who has seen the impact of immigration raids on his parishioners and is preparing his church for a different Ash Wednesday experience this year.

Pope Leo XIV

The first American-born Pope, who has criticized the Trump administration's treatment of immigrants and called for more humane measures.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

“The Church's engagement in public life really begins with our mission, not politics. Our role is to uphold the dignity of every human person and to accompany those who are vulnerable. At times that includes speaking into public policy, especially when laws or enforcement practices impact families, human dignity, or the common good.”

— Isaac Cuevas, Director of immigration and public affairs, Archdiocese of Los Angeles (dailybreeze.com)

“While we as a Church do not condone unlawful entry into the country, the brutal way authorities are enforcing the law is unacceptable and does not recognize immigrants as human beings, much less as the children of God that they are.”

— Bishop Alberto Rojas, Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino (dailybreeze.com)

“The cracks that I see are people hovering on the edge of despair. People who are considering suicide. Domestic violence. Students not going to school. Those are the cracks that I see.”

— Father Francisco Gómez, Pastor of Our Lady of Soledad Parish in Coachella (dailybreeze.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This Lenten season, the Catholic community in the US is grappling with the complex intersection of faith, advocacy, and politics, as they navigate the ongoing immigration enforcement actions and their impact on their communities. The church's response, rooted in upholding human dignity and providing pastoral care, stands in contrast to the divisive political rhetoric, underscoring the need for compassion and unity in addressing these challenging issues.