Pressure Ping!
Religious leaders pressure White House for reform...but wait, aren't they both on the same side of the issue here?
Posted on 04/29/2006 6:55:38 AM PDT by siunevada
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Several U.S. cardinals had a busy morning in Washington April 28 urging humane and compassionate immigration legislation as the Senate prepared to debate immigration reform.
The U.S. bishops want a "comprehensive reform" that deals compassionately with the millions of undocumented aliens in the United States, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington said in brief remarks at a photo opportunity between meetings on Capitol Hill.
The U.S. bishops have expressed support for many aspects of a compromise bill expected to reach the Senate floor in early May, but they are also concerned about harsh enforcement provisions in the legislation, including expedited removal of illegal aliens along the border and denial of protections to asylum seekers.
Cardinal McCarrick and Cardinals Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles and William H. Keeler of Baltimore started the day with a breakfast meeting on immigration reform with White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove and other White House aides.
Also attending that session was Vincentian Father David M. O'Connell, president of The Catholic University of America.
From the White House Cardinals Mahony and McCarrick went to Capitol Hill to meet with several senators on immigration reform legislation. Following a meeting with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston joined them and the three prelates met with Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill.
A meeting with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., capped off the cardinals' Hill visit.
At a brief press conference following the meeting with Reid, Cardinal Mahony was asked his views on the proposed immigrant boycott of work and school on May 1, when demonstrations for humane immigration legislation were planned across the country. Activists working on behalf of immigrants were divided over the use of a work-school boycott as a demonstration tactic.
The cardinal said he hoped Los Angeles children would attend school that day to learn about immigration issues and write their legislators, and after school join a march planned in Los Angeles, which was to start at 4 p.m. in MacArthur Park.
During another brief media event before the cardinals' final meeting on the Hill, Frist said he hoped the Senate would be able to craft an immigration bill that would enjoy strong bipartisan support.
One of the key elements in immigration reform that the cardinals and the U.S. bishops have been working for is a program that would provide a path to citizenship for large numbers of undocumented workers already living in the United States.
The compromise bill the Senate will consider allows undocumented workers who have resided in the United States for more than five years to obtain a conditional immigrant visa and eventually permanent residency after fulfilling certain conditions; it sets more stringent rules and conditions for those who have been in the United States less than five years.
The cardinals were in Washington for the April 28 American Cardinals Dinner, an annual fund-raising event for The Catholic University of America.
Of course, most esteemed Senators and Cardinals, if one is illegal, obeying rules and regulations is not one's first inclination, is it?
Shall we all bash our foreheads against a brick wall repeatedly? It will accomplish as much good as this compromise legislation.
Not OUR foreheads....if you get my drift.
Yeah, they want all the illegals, when will they STFU and get back to what they are supposed to do. TEACH RELIGION, Christ said it "That man who enter not the front gate is a thief". now I maynot have the words exact but that is the essence of it, Look in JOHN.
The separation of church and state should cut both ways. If the cardinal wants to play politics he should register as a lobbyist and give up the cloth. It is about time we audit the church to see whether funds have been inappropriated diverted to political purposes.
Yes this is a good case for the church to stay out of state Business, as they are the ones that has caused the problem.
= AMNESTY
The Cardinals need to get their pontifical asses down to Mexico, leading protests of the flocks of faithful against the injustice of the Mexican authorities that continues to produce the poverty there.
If their political advocacy on behalf of Mexican nationalism keeps up, the non-profit status of ALL American Catholic churches should be revoked.
American conservative Catholics should be outraged at their Cardinals shilling for a Mexican nationalist political movement.
There are thousands of non-Latino legal immigrants in my local community. THEY are outraged. They thought they were immigrating their families to a just nation where they could rely in the rule of law, not the rule of the mob, which many of them left behind. They don't understand why ONE foreign language, Spanish, should be raised above English, on THEIR children; this is not what THEY came to America for.
There is a GIANT lie, in the GOP, in the Demorats and in the media. The "movement" is not for immigrants, and not particularly not for legal immigrants and most particularly not for non-Hispanic immigrants. It is a movement pushing for the right of any Latino to set foot on U.S. soil and claim, by their presence, and by nothing else, the right to be here. It is a movement to use a planted mob of immigrants to change the political framework of north America, to disregard national sovereignty and our Constitution.
It is treason.
Morning Snowman1,
I am a caholic and these alleged "kardinals" need to take their whiney liberal asses to mehico permanently.
They do not represent the majority of catholics views here in the USA.
They are nothing more than a liberal splinter group, who needs to be ex-communicated from the church.
We do not owe the illegals anything. They need to take their mehico flag waving asses back across the "rio grande."
I wonder what part of legal immigration they fail to understand?
I presume they feel special rights should be afforded to their criminal illegal entry in to the USA.
Oh by the way, F--- la raza and the pukes who are members.
As Capt "Regleg" Tyrell said, "Doin Right Ain't Got No End."
God Bless America, and our patriotic Americans and other(s) who came here legally.
America Para Siempre'
NSNR
Not when it benefits the RATS and Vatican! Just read on my local paper that the immigration problems is growing into a very serious matter. I live on a border town and INS is worried that the numbers of illegals is rapidly growing into a catastrophe! The number of illegals crossing has jump in an incredible number while our congresscritters are cowering under their beds, holding covering their ears and eyes...UGH! Expect to pay more taxes to support those who are making the journey over and those who are STILL illegally here. Our schools can't handle any more illegal children and our city hospital is busting at the seams, that includes our wallets as well...:(
Would the Cardinals consider asking their hundereds of hopstitals to provide free care for these poor illegal souls?
I hope the lawmakers told them "Your Eminences, forgiveness for sin is your business, not ours. Let the illegals repent in their home countries and join in with the Church on cleaning up the greed and corruption that made them leave in the first place."
Wow, you sure nailed that one good!
Now sit back and wait for the bushbots to call you "Nellie", "insane", and "racist" for such a simple statement of the truth.
"American conservative Catholics should be outraged at their Cardinals shilling for a Mexican nationalist political movement.
There are thousands of non-Latino legal immigrants in my local community. THEY are outraged. They thought they were immigrating their families to a just nation where they could rely in the rule of law, not the rule of the mob, which many of them left behind."
This Conservative American Catholic is outraged. How anyone can get past the ILLEGALITY of these aliens' actions from the first moment they come on our soil is beyond comprehension. This is a country of law. First, foremost and, I thought, always. If our governments, on all levels, do not enforce THE LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, then we have already lost the U.S.A.
To think that "leaders" of my church would encourage this kind of lawbreaking is outrageous and should not be tolerated by members of the church. We need to let these guys know what we believe.
Thank you cardinals.
Think of the Christian Mexican American children when drafting this legislation...please.
They already do.
How come Mexico can deport, and we cannot???
Don't forget shopping on Monday
Boycott their boycott.
The U.S. cardinals should next fly to Mexico City and demand that the Mexican government start treating illegals crossing into Mexico from Guatemala more humanely.
If the illegals were all whites from Europe, or were seen as people likely to vote Republican once they became citizens, we'd be hearing demands that they be sent home because they were taking jobs from members of minority groups or were driving down wages and making it harder for labor unions to organize workers.
In the long run a system which rewards those who break the law really won't help the Mexican / Mexican-American children. (Although certainly you are right that we should work towards effective solutions to help them.) Amnesty simply tells Mexicans who follow the law that they are stupid, and that the way to get ahead is to cheat. It will be a magnate to keep drawing more and more illegal immigrants and further break down civil society in both countries.
"Would the Cardinals consider asking their hundereds of hopstitals to provide free care for these poor illegal souls?
They already do."
That's why they had to charge me twice as much for my operation.
Deport all illegals now!
You can go too Sinkspur!
Gee did they happen to mention the innocent unborn. I doubt it.
I have always been a Republican because I am a Christian. If the Republican party loses site of their Christian roots and the promotion of Christianity..in my opinion they have lost everything.
Yes they are here illegally and they need to pay a fine but some of the rhetoric I have seen has been like animals going in for the kill and not conducive to finding a reasonable solution.
IMHO..save it for our real enemies.
Well, this bushbot agrees that Wuli's post made mammoth sense and that GWB is wrong on this issue.
LOL!! Nah. I've been here longer than you.
Besides your antisocial. Nobody will miss you.
the cardinals are insuring job security for themselves.
There is a GIANT lie, in the GOP, in the Demorats and in the media. The "movement" is not for immigrants, and not particularly not for legal immigrants and most particularly not for non-Hispanic immigrants. It is a movement pushing for the right of any Latino to set foot on U.S. soil and claim, by their presence, and by nothing else, the right to be here. It is a movement to use a planted mob of immigrants to change the political framework of north America, to disregard national sovereignty and our Constitution."
I've been called a "Bushbot" before for supporting the Dubai decision, yet I am 100% in agreement with you and very disappointed that Bush and most ALL of our D.C. leadership are IGNORING the majority of americans who do NOT support amnesty for illegals.
I believe May Day is going to change all that. The protesters have been calling for Revolucion! and I do believe that come Monday, they are going to get one. Americans WILL NOT stand for this any longer and D.C. is in for a rude awakening. Shame on them for allowing these invaders to take over our cities. They've ignored our borders, allowing this monster to fester and grow and now they are allowing all of us to be vulnerable, both economically and personally, to what may become a violent, nationwide security nightmare that law enforcement alone can NOT handle. I've got a very bad gut feeling about all this.
"Well, this bushbot agrees that Wuli's post made mammoth sense and that GWB is wrong on this issue."
____________________________
Bushbot-lite I guess....:)
THESE CARDINALS DON'T WANT THE USA TO ENFORCE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS. THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE USCCB LETTER TO THE SENATORS URGING THEM NOT TO STRICTLY ENFORCE THE LAW:
They are dangerous because they have authority and reinforce people's liberal leanings. How often to they get involved in pro-life issues? Shame on all of them.
If they're going to encourage illegals to break the law, is it ok for the rest of us to pick and choose which laws we obey?
They're a bunch of socialists.
ping
Cardinals = Whores looking to fill their sunday baskets.
Religious leaders pressure White House for reform...but wait, aren't they both on the same side of the issue here?
Why should they? The Cardinals know that America's first Mexican President will make sure the American taxpayers pay those bills.
I don't like to see Cardinals come out on issues like this. It is their right, but they need to be very careful of what the implactions of their advocacy actually are. Here they are absolutely terrible.
These Cardinals are going on the record advocating humane treatment of foreign nationals on our soil. While I agree that humane treatment is to be regarded highly, isn't there another groups that needs to be treated humanely? Are U.S. Citizens being treated humanely? Is it humane to demand U.S. Citizens foot the bills for tens of millions of people? Is it humane to demand whole regions of our nation have their culture destroyed so it can be replaced by that of a foreign nation?
As a nation we have human rights. We have the right to devise laws that will govern how our nation operates. It is not inhumane to deny to foreign nationals.
Look folks, if we cannot devise and enforce rules to govern our borders then we simply cannot devise and enforce any rules at all.
If we cannot deny access to foreign nationals, how can we expect them to honor any of our other laws? They are after all citizens of another nation. Our laws do not apply to them. If our border laws are unreasonable, then what's to stop foreign nationals from claiming that any of our other laws are unreasonable, or that it is simply unreasonable to enforce those laws against them.
Where does it stop? Well, it doesn't.
As a citizen of this nation, I am subject to its laws. These Cardinals are claiming that foreign nationals are not. They are saying that concerns for humane treatment trumps the ability of the United States to enforce its laws. Today it's the border laws. Tomorrow it will be the laws against entitlements for foreign nationals. Then it will laws regarding certain practices that are okay in their nation of origion.
These priests are advocating the opening pandora's box. Sorry, no sale.
I have not heard of any anti-illegal alien protests in my area for the 1st...I will however, drive around til I find a group of pro-lawbreakers and set up an anti-protest on my own...
This ought to be a wake up call to any conservative Catholics...
The worst part of Bush's proposals are the "guest worker" program.
Why? What could be worse than 12 million getting amnesty and becoming citizens?
How about 30 million "guest workers", here most of the time, with perpetually renewed "guest worker" cards, never citizens, always with political allegiance to their "home" country - predominately Mexico - always culturaly and socially never quite here and never quite home, because of their "guest" status and ambiguous political "rights".
In the matters that will affect them most - where they work, they will have no rights, and in matters where they have rights - at home - they will have little involvement.
Mexico has already started action to "solve" this issue.
The Mexican parliament is working on legislation to establish "districts" in the U.S. where Mexican nationals living here will elect - in regular election campaigns - their own representatives IN MEXICO'S PARLIAMENT. In other words, Mexico is already establishing the means for its own political districts in the U.S. And where are our Constitutional provisions for such a change in the political framework of our own territory? Non-existant of course, as should be the case.
Yet, who - Bush??, McPain, McFrist????? Who is working against this possibility?? No One. And who here will utlimately decide it??? The Supremes.
NO GUEST WORKER PROGRAM. IT IS A TIME BOMB INSIDE A TROJAN HORSE.
Every existing nation in the world that currently has large guest worker programs are ALL socially and politically dysfunctional nations and/or near dictatorships.
(Phillipines, who has a huge significant portion of its work force working semi-permanently in nations spread from Asia to the Middle East and it is politically and economically dysfunctional; UAE/Dubai, absolutely dependent on a huge non-citizen (never can be citizen) foreign, permanent "guest worker" force - fuedal sheikdom; Mexico who gets more money from its workers here than any source of foreign exchange from trade, including more than what it earns from its sizeable oil exports)
Countries that need large numbers of guest workers, or that send large numbers of their citizens out as guest workers have systemic failures, internally with their political economy.
In the US, massive input of cheap labor means that capital is too often used to expand existing labor-model production, keeping wages and the needed skill-set of labor low. It is a short term "fix"; because nations that do not rely on cheap labor keep reinventing work with constant upgrading of labor saving technology, particularly in manufacturing. And, because their work-model keeps improving, your need for cheaper labor keeps growing. Like Japan for instance, who, in the opposite way has hardly any immigration, remains very competitive with us and is currently the world leader in manufacturing automation technology. It is no accident or quirk that actual 22 century robots are emerging from Japan.
Illegal immigration and excessive immigration here has become an economic addiction, and that addiction is racheting down the total skill-level and skill-set of the American work force. It will, if allowed to continue, make the U.S. the new frontier in cheap labor for a future generation of manufacturing giants who will most likely be Chinese. It is creating the kind of economy with a bigger top end, a bigger bottom end and a softer, less stable, more economically uncomfortable middle. Like Mexico.
Bush is an idiot on this.
HA! love the tagline!
I haven't heard of any yet either. But I figure this rally is much different than previous ones. Media has had all weekend to talk about it and I'm thinking the whole "guess what we wrote a new national anthem in SPANISH to go with our country that we've come to take back" just might have been the last straw.
If I could physically join in a counter protest, I'd be there in a heart beat. I can't. But I'll tell you what, tempers are rising and if all hell breaks loose where MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of people are gathered, all across the coutry, just because the majority of americans who disagree with amnesty want their voices heard too, we're going to have a crises on our hands. But it seems to me that a crisis may be what it's going to take to get the attention of those in D.C. and for them to sit up and take notice.
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