by KYW's John McDevitt

Many say the way immigrants are treated in this country can be unjust, and that immigration laws need to change.
  
Monsignor Hugh Shields has been working for the last three years as a liaison between Cardinal Justin Rigali and the Hispanic community in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He says there are nearly 40 outreach centers in various parts of Philadelphia, Avondale, Norristown, and Upper Darby:

"The church will be trying to say, 'If you are already inside, what could we do in the name of Christ to help you -- to eat, to be safe, to not lose your dignity as a human being, for your family to be united?  What things can we do to help you, whether you are documented or not documented?' "

Msgr. Shields says that because of a number of concerns among immigrants it's clear that the nation's immigration laws need to change:
  
"The lack of jobs, the lack of medication, the lack of security, the incarceration, the lack of driver's licenses, and the lack of being able to go from high school into a college because it's federally funded and it can't be accepting the undocumented. It's a constant series, and it just cries out to us as a church and as a people that something just isn't right in this country of ours. Immigration laws need to be reworked and certainly refined and made better."

Shields says that no priest, nun, or lay person working with him is trying to circumvent the laws:

"But we are challenged to at least look at what is, as far as laws, and say, 'Something has to give here.' "

(Photo of 2006 march in Philadelphia for immigrants' rights by KYW's Ed Fischer)