U.S. Catholic leaders expressed disappointment following the Senate's failure to pass a bill to reform the current immigration system.

Speaking on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, Calif., the chairman of the bishops' Committee on Migration, said June 29 he was "deeply troubled" that legislators were unable to agree upon legislation to reform immigration.

"The status quo is morally unacceptable and should not be allowed to stand," he said. "The U.S. bishops shall continue to point out the moral deficiencies in the immigration system and work toward justice until it is achieved."

Had it passed, the bill would have established a path toward citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States and would have strengthened security along the U.S.-Mexico border. Mostly Republicans -- but some Democrats as well -- voted against ending discussion on the immigration bill June 28, effectively blocking its passage.

Opponents of the immigration bill argued that the U.S. borders must first be secured before the government expedited the citizenship process for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the country. Analysts have said it is unlikely the immigration issue will resurface for consideration in Congress before the 2008 elections.

Catholic leaders around the nation issued statements voicing their frustration with the outcome of the debate. Many Catholic leaders and groups said the reform would have addressed an issue of moral concern, since millions of immigrants live in fear of deportation and separation from their families.

The Senate's inability to agree on comprehensive immigration reform is a "monumental failure for our country," said Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. In a June 28 statement, he lamented the unchanged fate of illegal immigrants living in fear of deportation.

"Today's action to give up on the bill leaves in place the status quo -- a deeply flawed, untenable and much-criticized immigration system that is (in) desperate need of reform," he said.

In its June 28 statement, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, an organization that promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching, described the Senate's failure to pass the bill as a "political and moral failure." The statement said the organization was disappointed in leaders of both parties for not putting what they saw as the "common good" above partisan politics.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles spoke in Spanish at a press conference June 29 outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. According to a translation of his remarks, Cardinal Mahony said immigration laws in the United States were "unjust and immoral."

Opponents of the immigration bill worried about offering what they described as amnesty to illegal immigrants in the United States. Cardinal Mahony said in his statement that immigrants were the founders of the country and have always contributed to the identity of America. He said the Catholic Church would support the immigrant community and spoke against anti-immigrant sentiment.

"We are all part of the same community," Cardinal Mahony said. "We shouldn't be divided by fear or by the anti-immigrant rhetoric which sadly has been perpetuated during this debate."

A statement from Jason Christensen, the executive director of Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs, Colo., said the Catholic Church has always been an "immigrant church." He referenced the parable of the Good Samaritan as a message from Jesus that everyone is our neighbor.

Bishop Michael P. Driscoll of Boise, Idaho, asked Catholics to pray for immigrants "whose families are being torn apart, who are being denied the right to work and who live in fear of deportation because of the current unacceptable system."

Catholic leaders vowed to continue to support the immigrant community and to encourage legislators to enact immigration reform.

Bishop Driscoll said June 29 that the Idaho Catholic Church would embrace the vulnerable in the community. He asked Catholics and all others who wanted a solution to pray for legislators to resolve problems with the immigration system.

Cardinal Mahony promised to keep the fight for immigration reform alive by working with elected officials. His personal goal, and the goal of the Catholic Church, is to achieve immigration reform that protects human rights and guards the dignity of all persons, he said.

"I, your archbishop, your auxiliary bishops, your priests and our entire Catholic Church are not giving up," he said. "We are here today to ask you not to become discouraged and not to lose hope. We have to keep fighting and we will keep fighting."

Cardinal Mahony said the Catholic Church would continue to welcome immigrants.

Contributing to this story was Ellie Hidalgo in Los Angeles.