Pope Leo hasappointed a former illegal aliento lead the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia.
Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 55, is a former illegal alien who entered the United States as a teenager after being smuggled into the country.
He later obtained legal status and became a U.S. citizen in 2006.
He had been serving as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Washington and will replace retiring Bishop Mark Brennan.
Menjivar-Ayala has publicly criticized the Trump administration’s policy of mass deportations and is well known for his progressive posturing.
In a recent column, he wrote: “To those of you who are silent or think this does not involve you… I ask you: Do you not see the suffering of your neighbors?”
The Vatican announced the appointment alongside other promotions, including Rev. Robert Boxie III, who was named an auxiliary bishop in Washington.
Boxie has strongly defended Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which have become defacto illegal under the trump administration.
“It’s really frustrating… The attacks on ‘DEI’ — I don’t even know what that means anymore,” Boxie said. “Diversity is a good thing. Diversity is of God.”
Menjivar-Ayala previously worked manual labor jobs in the U.S. before entering the priesthood. His immigration status was later resolved with assistance from church officials.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
