PRESS RELEASE

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Media Contact:
Eric L. Steckel,
Communications Manager
510-768-3147

esteckel@cceb.org

Catholic Charities of the East Bay CEO Chuck Fernandez

Commits to Helping Syrian Refugees
East Bay provider of refugee resettlement services urges community to stand in
solidarity with Syrian refugees and other victims of terrorist organizations.
OAKLAND, Calif. November 19, 2015 In the wake of the tragic events in Paris on November
13, 2015, Catholic Charities of the East Bay Chief Executive Officer Chuck Fernandez has
issued a statement on behalf of the agencys refugee resettlement program. The agency, which
has provided resettlement services in the East Bay for over 35 years, is committed to providing
for the safety of all refugees referred to it from the U.S. State Department, including those
fleeing civil war in Syria.
The attacks in Paris have led to passionate discussion regarding the acceptance of Syrian
refugees to the United States. We wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of
the victims of the attacks. We also express our condolences to the French people and others
traumatized by this violence, said Mr. Fernandez. We want to take this opportunity to reinforce
our unwavering commitment to Welcoming the Stranger and to the safety of our community.
These are not mutually exclusive and the United States can continue to welcome refugees while
steadfastly maintaining our own security.
We urge our community to avoid the impulse to blame all refugees for the actions of
terrorist organizations, he continued. They, too, are victims of violence and persecution and
seek a place of safety and freedom. Instead, we urge our community to stand in solidarity with
the hundreds of thousands of Syrians and others displaced by the violence in their homeland
Refugees are referred to Catholic Charities by the U.S. State Department after extensive
security checks and background screenings. Refugees go through multiple layers of interviews
and security checks making them the most thoroughly vetted group of people who come to the
United States., explained Mr. Fernandez.
Pope Francis comments before the U.S. Congress brought this to the attention of all
Americans. Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Second

World WarTo respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal. We need to avoid
a common temptation nowadays: to discard whatever proves troublesome. Let us remember the
Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Mr. Fernandez closed by saying, In the face of this current crisis, Catholic Charities of the
East Bay will continue to follow Pope Francis lead of providing hope and healing to those
seeking freedom. As an agency, we will continue to stand firm to serve the poor, marginalized,
and the vulnerable. We ask that you keep the people of France in your prayers and to join us in
prayer for peace and safety in our homes, communities, and world.

About Catholic Charities of the East Bay: Catholic Charities of the East Bay (CCEB) is a
social services agency headquartered in Oakland, California. In the last fiscal year, Catholic
Charities served over 8,000 clients in three primary programs: "Welcoming the Stranger" offers
legal immigration, refugee resettlement and refugee employment services. "Fostering SelfSufficiency" provides services designed to strengthen families and increase income to livable
wages. "Healing Trauma" delivers immediate and sustained support to victims of crime,
especially those impacted by community, domestic, and family violence, as well as mental
health treatment to students and adolescents experiencing multiple, ongoing incidences of
trauma. For more information, visit www.cceb.org.
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Media Contact:

Eric L. Steckel, Communications Manager Office: 510-768-3147

Mobile: 415-713-2220 E-mail: esteckel@cceb.org