Archbishop Naumann: Scripture exhorts faithful to welcome the migrant, alien

CNA ^ | 02.03.06

[Coleus]

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Archbishop Naumann: Scripture exhorts faithful to welcome the migrant, alien

Kansas City, Feb. 03, 2006 (CNA) - In his latest column, Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph Naumann weighed in on the volatile national immigration debate, saying that Scripture exhorts faithful to welcome the stranger and the alien, not as an option--but as a responsibility.

The Archbishop wrote in regard to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Justice for Immigrants Campaign which advocates comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S.  Citing a joint pastoral letter drafted by the Bishops of the U.S. and Mexico in 2000 called, “Strangers No Longer: Together On a Journey of Hope,” Archbishop Naumann said that the Biblical Abraham himself as well as his descendents “knew what it was like to be strangers in a strange land.”

The document points out that “The key events in the history of the Chosen People of enslavement by the Egyptians and of liberation by God led to the commandments regarding strangers (Ex 23: 9; Lv 19: 33).”

“Israel’s conduct with the stranger” it continues, “is both an imitation of God and the primary, specific Old Testament manifestation of the great commandment to love one’s neighbor… the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes, who executes justice for the orphan and widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him.”

“So you, too,” scripture exhorts, “must befriend the alien, for you once were aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt”(Dt 10: 17-19).

Archbishop Naumann added that “During the Christmas season, we were reminded how Jesus, Mary and Joseph were migrants and refugees, having to flee their homeland to avoid the maniacal efforts of King Herod to kill Jesus.” Likewise, “In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples when they welcome a stranger, they welcome him.”

In short, the Archbishop said that “For the American Catholic, being concerned about the plight of immigrants today is not just an option but a responsibility.”  Admitting his lack of “expertise or competence to design the precise solution for our current immigration challenges,” Archbishop Naumann said that he is “confident that if we — as Americans — set our minds and our hearts to the task, we will succeed in devising a solution that both protects our security and welcomes as many newcomers as possible who share our yearning for freedom and our desire to have the opportunity to work hard.”

Each immigrant and newcomer, he wrote, “possesses the image of God engraved on their heart. Each migrant is of such worth that Jesus Christ gave his life on Calvary for them.”  How then, the prelate closed his column, “can we ignore the plight of those who are so precious in the eyes of the Lord?”

[no-to-illegals]

a lie is a lie and not supporting the doctrine of the church is corruption against the teachings of the church, therefore I would go that far to say the archbishop is corrupt....JMHO .... I will gladly fight for your right to have your opinion also. Have a great evening.

[VOYAGER]

Archbishop Naumann said that the Biblical Abraham himself as well as his descendents “knew what it was like to be strangers in a strange land.”

Is this wine bibbing priest saying that God is telling the mexicans, like he told Abraham, leave your country and go to a land He would show him but in the case of the mexicans has told them to go to the U.S. and see for yourselves?

Sounds like his "kool aid" could be causing him to hallucinate.

Watch out for that pedestrian in the crosswalk "padre"!

[Aliska]

I don't think ancient Israel had to deal with an alien situation such as we do today, flocking in by the millions. The OT should be taken with a grain of salt and dash of common sense.

I can't imagine God condoning letting so many in that it makes our country a leaky boat which is in danger of capsizing.

Aliens get better benefits than a lot of working poor Americans get causing a great strain on the system. If an American with any means at all has to go to the emergency room, they are billed and dinged if they don't pay, at the same time money they make has to pay for alien care as well. We have to take care of them for humanitarian reasons, but enough is enough for now.

We need a sane immigration policy, looking toward the future, when there may not be enough jobs for us or them, not to mention the criminals and potential terrorists among them.

What happens to them and us if the economy takes a real nose dive?

[Sam the Sham]

Does your Christian charity extend to, say, 40 million Muslim immigrants ?

And the 'alien' in ancient Israel was expected to obey all Jewish laws. He didn't have the 'freedom of religion' to set up an altar to Asherah or Mircom. Ruth the Moabitess became a practicing Jewish convert.

And I do remember in Ezra and Nehemiah how the returning exiles from Babylon were demanded to divorce their non-Jewish wives.

[sailor4321]

Thank you!

[RobbyS]

The lack of episcopal support for school vouchers IS amazing. It is as if they did not want Catholic schools, except for the elite.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Our government also condones and supports homosexual relations and abortion. Doesn't make it in accordance with God's word.

Are you equating perversion and murder with immigration? The Bible specifically condemns homosexuality and abortion (thus making laws permitting them at odds with God's revealed will), but it is silent on a government enacting laws regulating immigration. The Bible states we are to respect and obey the government's laws except where they violate God's.

My point was that the Archbishop is welcome to make the case for changing the immigration laws, but to advocate their violation would be unscriptural. Both you and he seem to be making the same error, in comparing the incomparable.

[SC33]

I consider myself a spiritual person, but sometimes I hear and read what many "Religous" people have to say on a variety of matters, and I begin to understand why so many view Religion with such hostility.

Another poster seemed to imply that President Bush is ruling this country based strictly on his interpretation of the Bible. If this is true, God help us all.

[gubamyster]

ping

[Thumper1960]

With all due respect to the Archbishop.....baby-rapers are doomed to H*ll, too. Best he concentrate on cleaning up his own backyard before lecturing others on what his interpretations of the Good Book are.

[catroina54]

Is your argument that we cannot afford to follow God's word?

---

think you better read the Word of God some more because what the hierarchy is insinuating is blasphemy....and i don't think that i'm he only one thinking this either.
The Holy Family was law abiding and not migrants.The "flight" to egypt did not make Them illegal immigrants or MIGRANTS.To compare THEM to illegal immigrants goes beyond belief.
no where in Scripture are you told to lie,steal and commit fraud.

[Malcolm]

LOL, yet another warped ex-cathedra pronouncement from the good folks at the CC. What a world!

[Coleus]

the church has, where have you been?

[Thumper1960]

The "church" has not.

Where have you been?

[Coleus]

You're full of crap, every diocese in the USA has addressed the issue.

[El Cid]

Archbishop Naumann: Scripture exhorts faithful to welcome the migrant, alien

Fair enough. But first, and foremost, Scripture tells us to honor the laws and not to lie. We have laws that regulate legal immigration, and our elected leaders are supposed to honor God by trying to enforce these laws, not ignore them. They lie when they ignore our laws.
The good Archbishop should not be encouraging law breaking - he is disobeying God, and encouraging others to sin. If he desires 'open boundaries' - make the case, and lobby to change our laws .... But why the USA should give up its sovereignty and cease to be a nation is beyond me ...

[DuncanWaring]

Actually, there was no evidence the bishop was drunk.

The guy who got run over was drunk.

The only thing they got Bishop O'Brien for was "Leaving the scene of a fatal accident".

And I've never seen blood-alcohol expressed as "1.8".

[arasina]

Scripture also upholds the authority of the government, which in this case has established laws regulating immigration.

Exactly.

"Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

SEPARATE STATE FROM CHURCH, BUT NOT FROM GOD
He is speaking of the keeping of law and order almost exclusively. Government today tries to do a lot more, and gets a lot more wrong. Caesar is interfering into things which are not his concern, and we have a duty to say so. And when the state actively starts to do evil, it is certainly time to warn that Caesar is overstepping his mark.

The main point is that just as each individual is responsible to God for his actions, and each family, and every church, so is every nation state. Each of those “spheres”, to borrow from Abraham Kuyper’s idea of “sphere sovereignty”, derives its authority from Almighty God alone. Church might in one important sense be separate from State, but neither can separate itself from God.

So keep in your place, Caesar, stay out of what is not your business, and stick to what God has ordained you to do.

Source: Christian Voice: Render Unto Caesar

[Thumper1960]

Talk is cheap. Addressing the issue is lip service.

Perhaps, those who harbor and continue to transfer problem clerics will team up with the ROP and get pointers on how to make the "problem" go away.

Oh, wait....they might have, already. It's the old: "Stop picking on our religion. To question us is to defame us."

Riiiight!

[axes_of_weezles]

He was very quick to put out OT quotes, but had none in response to #49 and #51.

I could almost hear him muttering "you racist" while posting.

When you argue for something amoral illogical and illegal there is very little to stand on.