Ohio bishops, Catholic leaders call for truth, compassion to triumph amid crisis in Springfield

(OSV News) -- The Catholic bishops of Ohio issued a statement Sept. 19 urging faithful and all people of goodwill to "turn to God and ask for eyes to see the infinite dignity of every person," while deploring the "partisanship and ideology, which blind us to the image of God in our neighbor, especially the unborn, the poor, and the stranger."

The statement comes after lockdowns of schools and city offices in Springfield, Ohio -- along with the evacuation of classrooms and grocery stores -- have followed threats of bombs and other violence against the immigrant Haitian community arising from viral claims fueled by the American presidential campaign that the city's migrants are stealing pets and eating them.

These claims have persisted even after local and state authorities, along with community leaders and other individuals caught in the controversy, refuted them as unfounded.

"Like all people, these Haitians should be afforded the respect and dignity that are theirs by right and allowed the ability to contribute to the common good," the bishops wrote. "The recent influx of so many migrants in a brief time has caused a strain on the city's resources. We applaud all those community groups working hard to advance the flourishing of Springfield, given the need to integrate newcomers into the social fabric. If we remain true to our principles, we can have a dialogue about immigration without scapegoating groups of people for societal issues beyond their control."

Social media was abuzz with the pet-eating claims sparked by Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance Sept. 9, even as Springfield and other Ohio officials told multiple news outlets that there was no evidence of harm, injury or abuse of pets by any immigrant group.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, amplified the unverified claims Sept. 10 during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, watched by 67 million people.

"They're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump said.

On social media, Vance claimed he "didn't invent constituents complaining about this" but one Springfield resident, Anna Kilgore, who made a police report (cited by Vance's spokesperson) that Haitians might have taken her missing cat late August, told The Wall Street Journal Sept. 17 that she actually found "Miss Sassy" a few days later safe in her own basement. Kilgore, a Trump supporter, said she apologized to her Haitian neighbors.

On Sept. 16, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced he would send a contingent of state troopers to be stationed inside and outside the city of Springfield's schools, which had received over 30 bomb threats in recent days.

"Many of these threats are coming in from overseas, made by those who want to fuel the current discord surrounding Springfield. We cannot let the bad guys win," Gov. DeWine said. "We must take every threat seriously, but children deserve to be in school, and parents deserve to know that their kids are safe. The added security will help ease some of the fears caused by these hoaxes."

Springfield estimates there are 12,000-15,000 Haitian immigrants in the city based on data from the state motor vehicles department, city schools, the health care system and service agencies. A 2022 census community survey numbers Springfield's population today at around 58,000 -- for a city that once boasted 83,000 in 1960.

The population surge of the past three years has increased demand for government benefits including Medicaid, food stamps and other welfare services. Aid workers have said these are mostly temporary until migrants receive their work permits. Those who work with Haitian migrants said the city's infrastructure was not prepared to handle the new arrivals.

Lisa Lenard, pastoral associate of the St. Rose Family of Parishes, which oversees five Catholic churches in Springfield, told OSV News, the surge "stresses that infrastructure."

As Springfield's public services have been stretched to the limits with this growth, resident complaints during public comments have become a regular occurrence at city commissioner board meetings.

Among them are traffic incidents, where the area as it experiences population growth has experienced an uptick in vehicular accidents involving injuries, and some deaths -- some of which have been attributed to Haitian migrants whose driving habits were formed in Haiti and have not adapted to American driving norms.

National political candidates have also pointed to the 2023 death of Aiden Clark, an 11-year old boy in a school bus accident caused by a Haitian immigrant driving without a license, who was sentenced nine to 13 and a half years in prison for the crime.

During a Springfield City Commission meeting, Aiden's father, Nathan Clark, took the public comments mic Sept. 10 to rebuke politicians claiming his son was "murdered by a Haitian migrant," saying his son loved learning about people from different cultures and Clark wanted to protect Aiden's memory from those he said were spreading hatred "for political gain."

"This needs to stop now," he said.

Gov. DeWine has publicly affirmed Haitian migrants are willing to get American driver's education, and pledged more resources to help Springfield accomplish that.

The City Commission meetings have also drawn hate groups such as the "Blood Tribe" Nazis who led an anti-Haitian march Aug. 10. A member who goes by the pseudonym "Nate Higgers" spoke during public comments.

"Stop what you're doing before it's too late," he said. "Crime and savagery will only increase with every Haitian you bring in. And with it public frustration and anger."

Springfield Mayor Rob Rue cut him off telling him, "You sound threatening" and ordered him "peacefully removed."

On Sept. 10, DeWine announced a $2.5 million boost for Springfield's public and private health services. He also said state troopers would help out starting Sept. 11 with local traffic enforcement to meet demands that the rapid increase in migrants has brought on. This is in addition to what the state already provided for drivers education, vaccines and screenings at schools and translation services, according to the governor.

Casey Rollins, volunteer executive director of the Springfield District Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. said St. Vincent de Paul along with other social service agencies in Springfield have helped about 8,100 Haitian migrants, whom she said mostly sought work permits. Because of political instability or other dangerous situations in their home countries, certain migrants including Haitians qualify for "temporary protected status" and are allowed to work in the country without being deported for a limited period. But they are not precluded from applying for residency.

Rollins, 64, told OSV News she first started working with Haitian migrants in 2017. According to Springfield officials, the city's Haitian migrants have legal authorization to live and work there.

"I can speak to their ethic, their faith, their absolute desire and dedication to work, to finding work and most importantly ... their care and concern for their own family," Rollins said.

"They care for community in such a way," she added, "even though they're being vilified and they're being persecuted here. They care for our people in such a way that once they receive a hand-up that we give them or that all the other agencies all over town are giving them, they become part of the leadership to give other people a hand-up, whether they're Haitian or American or whatever they are."

Lenard said St. Rose started offering a Haitian Mass last October to accommodate the growing Haitian population, which is mostly Catholic. A Haitian priest from the nearby Columbus Diocese celebrates the weekly Mass in French and Creole. But Lenard also said a number of Haitians join the English Mass to learn English. She said about a dozen Haitian children enrolled in catechism classes this year and many participated in vacation bible school during summer.

"As people are coming into the community, they're becoming more and more a part of the community and getting into the education program," Lenard told OSV News. "They are trying their best to assimilate to American life. ... People that are born and raised here leave. Now with the influx of immigrants, jobs are being filled. But there are still a lot of places with help wanted signs that need more workers."

According to at least one online job search engine there are more than 1,000 job openings within 15 miles of Springfield from low level to highly skilled postings. Companies such as Dole Foods and Speedway have a presence there. Rollins confirmed Haitians work in health care, construction, paralegal services, translation services and other fields, and there are some Haitian-owned businesses and restaurants in town increasing economic activity.

In their statement, the Ohio bishops stressed that "it is our belief in the dignity of human life that guides our consciences and rhetoric when engaging in politics or personal conversation.

"Each of us, therefore, must turn to God and ask for eyes to see the infinite dignity of every person," they wrote. "As the residents of Springfield, Ohio struggle with violent threats and life disruptions fueled by unfettered social media posts, we exhort the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill not to perpetuate ill will toward anyone involved based on unfounded gossip. Instead, we ask for prayers and support for all the people of Springfield as they integrate their new Haitian neighbors and build a better future together."