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Posted on 03/04/2006 1:42:33 PM PST by churchillbuff
As an American of Irish descent, Roman Catholicism has been in my family for hundreds of years. I respect the Church because I've seen first-hand the good that it can do. Worldwide, no organization does more for the poor and downtrodden than Catholic Charities.
Thus, it was no surprise when Roger Cardinal Mahony spoke from his pulpit in Los Angeles on Ash Wednesday and urged compassion for immigrants. Surely, people seeking a better life in the USA legally should get help from the Christian community. But the Cardinal's message turned out to include illegal immigrants as well, and then came the crusher: Cardinal Mahony said he will order his priests not to obey a proposed new federal law that cracks down on people aiding "undocumented aliens."
House Bill 4437, passed last December 16th, would make it a criminal offense to knowingly assist illegals in evading immigration laws. The proposed law also calls for a wall at the Mexican border, mandatory detention of illegals caught inside the USA, and a number of other tough enforcement provisions.
Cardinal Mahony opposes them all.
Instead, the Cardinal wants a "humane" approach to the illegal immigration problem and calls the tough measures "hysterical."
In a startling conversation with the LA Times, Mahony is quoted as saying that Al Qaeda operatives would not trek through the Arizona desert to infiltrate the USA and "the war on terror is not going to be won through immigration restrictions."
How the Cardinal arrived at these conclusions remains a mystery. I do believe, however, that thousands of Al Qaeda have trekked through arid areas in Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and Iraq. Somebody inform the Cardinal.
Mahony defiantly says that his priests are not going to become "immigration agents," but nobody is asking for that. The intent of the law is to eliminate so-called "sanctuary" policies whereby Americans shelter and generally provide for illegal aliens while helping them avoid detection.
As a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Mahony's job description is to act as an "emissary" of Christ. So the question becomes, "What would Jesus do?"
It is hard to believe that Jesus would ask the nationality of anyone before giving the person food and drink, or tending to them if they were injured. But if you follow the "render to Caesar" parable, Jesus might not be fine with setting up an underground railroad that violates a nation's right to regulate who enters its territory.
Maybe I'm wrong here, but it seems absolutely lawful and logical for any country to want to know who is living within its borders. Is border control a human rights violation? What say you, Cardinal Mahony?
It is somewhat unfair to bring this up, but I must, in the interest of full disclosure. Cardinal Mahony was not proactive in protecting children from predator priests in his diocese. In fact, many believe Mahony is a villain in the matter, stonewalling authorities and not holding some criminal priests accountable.
There is no common ground between the issues of predator priests and illegal aliens, except respect for the law. Urging his priests to violate a proposed new federal immigration law, after handling the priest scandal poorly, puts Cardinal Mahony in a tough spot both morally and legally.
Back in the Vietnam War days, a number of priests violated the law by participating in illegal protests. Some of them spent time in prison for doing so. Will that happen to Cardinal Mahony if the new immigration law passes and he defies it?
Only God knows.
has Cardinal Mahony ever been arrested protesting at an abortuary? I'd respect him for that.
Strange...now here I was thinking that a an article discussing theology would...I don't know...maybe address scripture and theology.
Can't argue with that. He stands up for the Boy Scouts, for Christmas, for victimized kids. The Left hates him.
This crap is going around archdioceses:
http://www.archatl.com/archbishops/gregory/writings/2006/03.01.06-immigration.html
If Mahoney hates injustice, he should be denouncing the corrupt of government of Mexico at the top of his voice. If these people are refugees from poverty, it is because the weesalth of Mexico is concentrates in the hands of a few thousand familes.
It's true that Charity is a theological virtue. However, don't forget that Justice is a Cardinal virtue.
Nicely summed up!
"Cardinal Mahony said he will order his priests not to obey a proposed new federal law that cracks down on people aiding "undocumented aliens."
Well, that's just real special. Mahoney can trump the federal laws with his laws. But guess what Mahoney? You're on your own because the Bible in no way teaches us to break the law. So, which book are you following?
If We're not going to jail employers of illegal aliens, We probably aren't going to jail priests.
All of them should be in prison since they all broke the law in coming here illegally.
Yes, I know there is a logistics problem with putting 10 - 20 mill. people in prison.
Reminds me of Gavin "Twosome" Newsome - we, the elitists, only want to follow the laws we think are just!
Mahoney is far from the Archbishop WE'd like to see in Los Angeles. I was suspicious of this bleeding-heart stance the moment he went public -- MSM -- and I am glad to have O'Reilley expose it. I bet it's smarmy and I bet he did it for political reasons. I do not trust the man.
The best way to get the message to these Cardinals and Bishops is to stop making donations to the Catholic Church on Sunday!
These bishops & Cardinals will change their perspective on the immigration issue when they loose their cash flow!
No Money for Mahoney!
Where is Cardinal Manhoney when it comes to dealing with the Pro Abortion Catholic SEnators and Congressmen?
We never should have helped slaves gain freedom from their southern masters.
The bible, old and new, is very clear that ALL aliens are to be treated as we treat ourelves. Laws making aliens "illegal" are not moral. These people are out neighbors and we are called to love them as ourselves.
As a Catholic - I can't believe this idiot. I know of a fact that all church property and income is tax exempt. I believe, maybe someone can check, but the salaries paid nuns, priests, including the cardinal are all tax exempt.
I would consider his position moral when all church properties, revenues, and incomes were taxed like everyone else and he could directly share in the burden he so carelessly wants to place on everyone else. I am sure the Diocese of Los Angeles has a very healthy real estate and investment portfolio.
Are you going to start this again? Either we all obey laws or we do not.
I think we should all go to Mahoney's residence and demand he put us all up as his "neighbor".
As far as that goes let's all go to Raycpa's house. After all we are all neighbors. I'm sure we will be taken in and treated like family. I would like to sit around all day and be taken care of by Raycpa.
If we create immoral laws we must change them. Is that so hard to understand?
What makes the law immoral?
Who pays for their disobedience of our laws? As long as it is you personally it's OK by me. Once you take my money for their support Then I have an opinion.
Immoral by whose standards?
The 'love them' part, I have no problem with. The free schooling (K-12) I have no problem with. The subsidized federal housing, protecting them from the police, free Social Security they didn't pay into just because they are old here, free tuition at colleges, free food stamps. Oh, and VOTING just because you live here illegally. It never ends, and I do have a tremendous problem with all of the above.
The Bible is very clear that you work for your food. Jesus NEVER condones free-loaders. He does not condone going to another country and breaking their laws because you feel ENTITLED to live in their country and free-load. He does NOT encourage breaking laws.
As far as the 'free zones' where no policeman may ask a CRIMINAL his immigration status, nor send him home if he is caught breaking a law - what part of logical or Christian is that??????????
Singermom, let me know when you are going to the sit-ins. I'll join you. Mahoney can flap his lips with NO consequences to himself, sound like a highly moral self-righteous person. But he is condoning law-breaking in the guise of sanctimonious do-gooding. Turns my stomach.
Yeh, you should have NO LAWS because they might hurt someone's feelings? Then what about the tax laws? Believe me, those hurt my feelings --when I am taxed to support illegals. What about MY feelings then? What about laws that protect ME and my family? I am supposed to work to support the WORLD???????? Because???
I don't think the Lord is in this in any shape or form. Not MY Lord.
Hey Ray I have a house payment, food to pay for, health care to pay for and gas for my car and utilities due at the 1st of the month. O:K if I come and live with you for awhile or if that is not fine how about wrie me a check for lets see abut 3,000.00. That would be great charity on your part. I could send what I save to someone back in the 3rd world country where I am from the USA.
Agreed
lol...I like what you wrote singermom.
The difference, I think, is most Christians feel a sense of being kind to other fellow men. Although there's a combination of old testment thinking, with the gospel ie an eye for an eye vs turn the other cheek. Personally, I think it's good to turn the cheek many times, but within reason.
Perhaps it's a matter of faith, but I couldn't possibly allow for my loved ones to get harmed, and that almost goes beyond a religious belief to protect my loved ones from harm. While that may not sit perfectly within the words of Jesus, I don't know if I could allow myself to see that kind of punishment and allow it. I hope such occasion never comes to be, because just internally it's a morally complex issue to choose text book religion vs the practical world. What do you do?
It's reasonable to have immigration laws, because it involves the whole of our structural system. It would be like 'singermom' says, 'why don't we all go to your house, and see how you feel about that.' I'm sure that would offend you regardless of how neighborly you feel about it. You couldn't possibly tend to all our needs and you might find that some of us aren't really good people. The rules of your house are similiar to the rule of our nation,...they work within reason or atleast they should.
We do want the good people in, and a few at a time. The same would apply to your house [Raycpa], I'm sure.
God's. The bible says we must treat aliens the same as we treat ourselves.
Leviticus 19: 33 " 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 14: 28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Deuteronomy 16: 13 Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. 14 Be joyful at your Feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.
Deuteronomy 24 14 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates.
Ezekiel 47: 21 "You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance," declares the Sovereign LORD.
Malachi 3: 5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.
15Matthew 14 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
17"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
18"Bring them here to me," he said. 19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Not everyone has that sort of power.
If we had rational leaders they would ask why these losers in life need to trek here in the first place, but no PC rules the day like Stalin did in his.
Nobody conservative who wants to "conserve" Judeo-Christian morality can ignore this.
On the other hand, people from other countries have an obligation to respect our border, honor our culture and obey our laws. Allowing anarchic immigration exposes our own people as well as the migrants to exploitation, criminality, disorder and misery.
Laws regulating the orderly and lawful maintenance of a nation's borders, and spelling out the procedures for legal immigration, are just and necessary, as far as I can tell.
The reason why consistent law-enforcement has never been seriously carried out is because both political parties are exploiting the situaiton for gain: Republican employers who like the influx of wave after wave of low-paid, union-busting labor; and Democratic activists who see how they can be reduced to a huge dependent class of Democratic voters, just like they reduced the urban blacks to a permanent position of degrading dependency.
This is disastrously bad, long-term, for the illegal immigrants as well as for our own hardpressed people. And tolerating it is a form of social injustice and moral corruption.
But your point is valid: laws against giving food to hungry people, medical aid to the sick, and shelter to the homeless, are unjust and un-Biblical.
Lex iniusta, lex nulla. A law against God's law is no law at all.
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