Immigration Integration Bishops Educate, Advocate for Humane Treatment of Illegal Immigrants

http://www.ncregister.com/ ^ | May 27 2010 | National Catholic Register

[NoLibZone]

o matter where Americans stand on illegal immigration, the U.S. bishops hope they will first look at the people involved as individuals who need to be treated humanely.

“We aim to educate Catholics on this issue,” the need to recognize that illegal immigrants are people first deserving of the dignity God gives everyone, said Kevin Appleby, director of Migration Policy and Public Affairs in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration & Refugee Services Office.

The pastoral education effort of Catholics comes as Congress again considers an overhaul of the nation’s immigration policy, including a controversial legalization for millions of illegal immigrants. The bishops, who support an amnesty-like program, say the comprehensive approach is needed to ensure a legal path for illegal immigrants who are contributing to the American economy to openly join society.

“We hope to achieve a safe manner for people to come out of the shadows and live and work legally,” said Maria Odom, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, which supports a path to legalization.

The approach stems partly from the Catholic Catechism, which states in No. 2241 that “more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin.”

Additionally, the ongoing pro-immigrant effort to educate the laity stems from bishops’ long-standing views on immigrants in general. Those views were articulated in the 2003 pastoral letter from American and Mexican bishops, “Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope.” The letter details the reasons for the bishops’ position on the treatment of illegal immigrants, based on Scripture and Church tradition, and what that means for U.S. government policy.

[TheZMan]

Wonderful.

[jdege]

I’m very much in favor of ensuring that illegals be treated humanely as they are being sent home.

[historyrepeatz]

But that would mean fewer memberS for the church!

[historyrepeatz]

Make that “Member$”

[whence911]

I agree. I’m also willing to provide medical care that will keep any infected person from spreading their disease to the officers, until they get back across the border.

[PGR88]

Indeed, if you don’t want inhumane treatment of the people - DON’T LET THEM CROSS in the first place.

The inhumane treatment happens when they depart from their homes, smuggled by gangsters, subject to rape and robbery in the desert, exploited by their fellow countrymen (mostly) within the USA.

The most humane thing would be to CONTROL THE BORDER!

[nmh]

Perhaps ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS could OBEY our LAWS and come here LEGALLY?

Is it too difficult to comoprehend that we don’t want CRIMINALS here? We’d like to have LAW ABIDING LEGAL CITIZENS. Come here LEGALLY! Get in line. Obey our laws. Have RESPECT for America.

[nmh]

Heck they’ll harbor the ILLEGALS in the “church” and BREAK OUR LAWS DOING THAT. It’s terrible this misguided “compassion” for people breaking our laws.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The approach stems partly from the Catholic Catechism, which states in No. 2241 that “more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin.”

All of section 2241:

2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.

(emphasis added for the benefit of the navel gazing buffoons at the USCCB and their lackeys)

[Travis McGee]

"We don't care where they draw the new border, we just want more folks in the pews on Sunday."

[Bhoy]

Yeah, well, maybe, they would furl their Mex flags, quit protesting about their rights in a [to them] foreign country, quit stealing the wealth from other people by sending their children to schools and medical facilities in a [to them] foreign country & demanding that the teachers in that [to them] foreign country learn their language. Maybe they could learn to thank God for their deliverance instead of bashing their hosts & parading around in the streets clamoring that several states be ceded to them. Maybe they would quit supporting with money earned here the radical rabbling rousing La Reconquista & Mecha organizations. Maybe they should quit trying to define the politics of the people who are supporting them. Maybe they’d learn Enlish. OK?

[muawiyah]

Won't matter. If this guy thinks all those Mexicans are going to be good Catholics he's nuts. They'll find neighborhood Holy Roller operations and go there ~ the Spanish is better, the sermons are more related to their normal lives, and it's not nearly as stuffy ~ plus, you can dance, etc.

Now, back to the question ~ you need an immigration visa to be an immigrant. These people are simply visitors who left home without their visas.

Visitors aren't supposed to stay forever.

[A.A. Cunningham]

These people are simply visitors

These people are simply criminals and sinners:

Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house: neither shalt thou desire his wife, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his

[stripes1776]

“We aim to educate Catholics on this issue,” the need to recognize that illegal immigrants are people first deserving of the dignity God gives everyone, said Kevin Appleby, director of Migration Policy and Public Affairs in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration & Refugee Services Office.

Is the Catholic Church a socialist organization? The US laws are fair. But being a Catholic from Mexico does not except you from obeying the laws of this country.

[ken21]

why doesn’t the vatican spend their loot on their immigration?

[NoLibZone]

Speaking of whats coming:

Archbishop Gomez Analyzes Future Of Hispanics In US Catholic Church [“US was founded by Hispanics”]

Catholic News Agency | May 28 ,2010 | Catholic News Agency

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2523479/posts

[Just mythoughts]

God said Thou shalt NOT steal.

Personally I long for the *DAY* when things get set right.

Why don't these hypocrites itch, whine, and moan over Mexican Immigration LAW?

[A_perfect_lady]

“Humanely?” What the heck do they think we’ve BEEN doing, lining ‘em up and shooting them?

[HiJinx]

Ping!

Individuals? Sure!
Civil rights? Sure!

Each individual has the same civil rights as any other criminal, namely to face justice and suffer the consequences of their actions.