Chicago Teen Wins National Catholic Leadership Award

A Chicago 18-year-old who helped make it easier for undocumented students to attend college has won a national Catholic leadership award, according to a website sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Diana, whose last name was not released, won the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award presented annually by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). She won the award for helping to change Illinois law so that teens without legal residence in the U.S. can qualify for in-state college tuition.

Diana was brought to the U.S. from Mexico by her parents when she was five. Diana's last name is being withheld because is doesn't have legal residency and risks deportation by speaking out. She currently is seeking legal residency. Many young people grow up in the U.S. but don't have legal residency because their parents brought them here without proper visas. As a result, these young people struggle finding a job or attending college when they grow older.

Diana, a parishioner at St. Ignatius Church, has worked for two years to secure rights for undocumented young people. She has argued their case with Illinois state officials and Cardinal Francis George, which spurred him to write an article on the issue for the Chicago Tribune.

"Everything has to do with my Catholic faith," she is quoted as saying on the USCCB website. "This is what the Catholic faith stands for, that all people have the same rights and deserve to be treated with dignity."

CCHD provides resources throughout the nation to fight poverty. Read more about them on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development page on the USCCB website .

Catholic Connection
"When an alien resides with you in your land, do not molest him. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for him as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the Lord, am your God."
Leviticus 19:33-34

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