An Open Letter to the United States Congress:
A Plea for Compassionate Governance
To the Honorable Members of the United States Congress,
As a Catholic religious community of priests, brothers, and lay people formed in the spirituality of the Precious Blood of Christ, we urge you to govern with compassion and moral discretion for all people, especially those most vulnerable in our society. In these uncertain times, when the fabric of our shared humanity is often frayed by division and what Pope Francis called the “globalization of indifference,” we call upon you to return to the enduring principles that affirm the dignity and sanctity of every human life.
Every human being bears the indelible mark of the Creator. Life is sacred not because of what we do, but because of who we are—each person a reflection of the divine mystery. We are called to protect the unborn and to extend that same reverence to the poor, the marginalized, the immigrant, and the forsaken. As Scripture reminds us that “whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). The least among us today are the millions of children born into poverty, the elderly forgotten in isolation, the refugees seeking safety, the families without access to health care, and the young minds deprived of quality education.
As legislators, your authority is both a privilege and a profound responsibility. We urge you to practice it not in the service of partisan victory, but in pursuit of moral vision. True justice is not a matter of ideology, but of mercy wedded to truth. It demands policies that uphold human dignity, protect the earth we share, and ensure equitable access to the necessities of life: health care that heals without exclusion, education that liberates the mind, housing that shelters with dignity, and food and water that sustain the body and spirit.
We know that governance is complex and there are no easy answers. But we implore you to lead with hearts attuned to the most vulnerable and minds grounded in the common good. Let compassion be your guiding principle. Let empathy, not rhetoric, shape law. As the prophet Amos proclaimed, “Let justice flow like a mighty river” that irrigates the dry fields of inequality.
As Missionaries of the Precious Blood, we walk with those on the margins and see in every life the redeeming power of Christ’s outpoured love. We offer our prayers that you may be courageous and compassionate in the sacred duties entrusted to you. May you find strength in the call to serve all God’s people—not just the powerful or the vocal, but the silent, the hidden, and the forgotten. May the decisions you make echo not only in our history books, but in the hearts of generations to come.
With deep respect and abiding hope,
Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S
Fr. Ben Berinti, C.PP.S
Fr. Ron Will, C.PP.S
Fr. Joe Nassal, C.PP.S
Br. Daryl Charron, C.PP.S