The Abuse of ‘Sanctuary’, by John M. Grondelski

By John M. Grondelski, The Catholic Thing, September 26, 2025

John Grondelski (Ph.D., Fordham) is a former associate dean of the School of Theology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. All views herein are exclusively his.

“Sanctuary” has returned to the American political vocabulary, especially in the context of cities and states declaring they will not allow local resources – police or social services – to cooperate with federal authorities in identifying or detaining illegal aliens.

Contemporary Polish political philosopher Zbigniew Stawrowski argues that part of our modern problem is philosophical bait-and-switch: terms have been coopted by the Left, emptied of their original meaning, and replaced with new notions unmoored from the original.  We see this in words like “rights,” “justice,” and “marriage.”  We also see it with “sanctuary.”

A “sanctuary” is the most sacred part of a church.  It is, by definition, holy. “Sanctuary” refers to the sacred space around the altar, often (at least by tradition) physically set apart by a border: the altar rail. Gradually, the special reverence afforded the sanctuary came to extend to the entire church building – and, occasionally, to its surrounding area because of its connection to the Church. ….

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