Bishop Hirschfeld Calls Clergy to Prepare for Martyrdom At a vigil honoring Minneapolis resident Renee Good, Bishop Rob Hirschfeld told clergy to finalize their wills and ready themselves for a possible new era of witness, framing the warning as a proactive call rather than a fear‑based threat. He linked this call directly to protecting vulnerable people amid intensified immigration enforcement across the United States. The remarks quickly attracted national attention for their stark language and historical references [1].

Renee Good’s Death Triggers National Scrutiny of ICE Tactics Renee Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7 while driving when a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired his weapon in Minnesota, an incident the Trump administration defended as self‑defense, asserting the officer fired as the vehicle approached. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz publicly disputed the self‑defense claim, pointing to video footage that they say contradicts the official narrative. Their challenges have intensified calls for accountability and broader debate over ICE’s use of force [1].

Church Leaders Invoke Historical Martyrs to Defend Immigrants Hirschfeld invoked the 1965 martyrdom of Jonathan Daniels, a New Hampshire seminary student killed while shielding a civil‑rights activist, to illustrate clergy’s duty to stand between power and the vulnerable. He urged faith communities not to fear death but to bear witness for those targeted by harsh immigration policies. Other bishops, including Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe and Rt. Rev. Craig Loya, echoed this stance, urging congregations to resist hatred and care for immigrants and refugees as beloved by God [1].