Friday, January 2, 2015

CALIFORNIA DRIVERS' LICENSES

Today, January 2, 2015 over a million California undocumented residents will be able to legally apply for a Driver's Privilege card here in California.  Thank God!

Over the years I have heard the difficult stories of so many men and women who were forced because of job, school, or other need to get behind the wheel of a car without a license.  Their fears of being stopped, of possibly being deported, of suffering in many ways--all haunted them day after day.

Now, they must pass a written test, a vision test, and a driving test in order to qualify for a driver's licence in our State.  Some 250 of our parishes have been working with the possible applicants to prepare them to understand the Department of Motor Vehicles driver's booklet and to prepare for the tests.  It has been a long and important task for all of them, but they are anxious to become "legal" in at least this aspect of their daily lives.

It is possible that as many as 800,000 would be eligible here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for this driving privilege, and the Church is working diligently with many volunteers to help our people prepare well.

May this be a first step in a long journey bring our undocumented brothers and sisters fully out from the shadows so that they can participate fully in the life of our country where they have sacrificed and served for so many years.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!