Solving illegal immigration requires fixing economic causes, stresses Bishop Wester

CNA ^ | 6/4/2010

[markomalley]

Washington D.C., Jun 4, 2010 / 01:29 am (CNA).- Meeting with other bishops in a conference on immigration reform on Thursday, Bishop John C. Wester underlined the need “to address the economic root causes of migration and seek economic policies which would help create jobs” in other countries. This, he stressed, “is the lasting and humane solution to the challenge of illegal immigration.”  

Bishop Wester, who leads the Diocese of Salt Lake City and is Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, made his remarks at the fourth regional consultation on migration. Today's meeting was the first meeting held in the United States.

“Our purpose is to work together to fashion a multi-national pastoral and advocacy response to the millions of persons in this hemisphere who are compelled, either by fear of violence or poverty, to migrate in search of safety or a better life,” he explained.

“As a global institution, the Catholic Church plays an important role in advancing humane responses to the issue of migration and its impact on the human dignity and basic human rights of the person. We are present in both sending and receiving countries and see the forces which compel persons to migrate, and thus approach the issue from both sides.”

“Often,” he noted, “the global nature of migration is lost in our national debate, as many do not acknowledge the economic, political, or social push factors which drive persons to risk their lives to move to another nation,” Bishop Wester said.

After stressing that other countries should implement economic policies that benefit their citizens so that they aren't pushed to migrate, the bishop said, “we believe that all governments, not only the U.S., should look at their immigration laws and reform them in a manner which respects basic human rights.”   

“We live in a globalized world,” he added, “in which capital, communication, and even goods are exchanged regularly, but the movement of labor has not been regularized, and its impact on human beings not acknowledged or addressed.  As the most powerful country in our hemisphere and a destination for migrants, the United States should lead the way in this effort by reforming immigration laws as soon as possible.   

The Salt Lake City bishop also addressed the need for nations within the hemisphere to “redouble their efforts against the scourge of human trafficking, which continues in all of our nations.”  

“Although there have been strides made in raising awareness of this issue, we must continue to work together on all fronts – law enforcement, service, and reduction of poverty which can lead to trafficking,” he said.

Bishop Wester also referenced earthquake-ravaged Haiti, “which is still struggling to overcome natural disaster and poverty” following catastrophic earthquakes in January. “We call upon governments to continue to help in rebuilding that nation and to welcome Haitians who cannot remain in Haiti.”

In his concluding remarks, the bishop emphasized that the “Church must continue to play an active role in protecting the rights of persons on the move and to be their advocate.  Too often they are abused, exploited, even killed, as they transit in an attempt to survive.”  

“While we understand and recognize the right of our governments to maintain their borders and serve the interests of their citizenry, we believe these goals can be met without sacrificing the basic human rights of vulnerable persons.”

[markomalley]

Bishop Webster nails it when he underlined the need “to address the economic root causes of migration and seek economic policies which would help create jobs” in other countries. This, he stressed, “is the lasting and humane solution to the challenge of illegal immigration.”

Pity it will likely fall on mostly deaf ears in the very liberal USCCB.

[pnh102]

This is crazy. We already have plenty of laws against illegal immigration on the books. They simply need to be enforced.

The pro-illegal wing of the US Catholic Church really does a major disservice to Christianity.

[markomalley]

The pro-illegal wing of the US Catholic Church really does a major disservice to Christianity.

Hopefully, bishops will start to spout sense, like what Webster has done (fix the problems back home and the illegals won't have the as much desire to come here)

The US, state, and local governments bear primary responsibility for this illegal alien situation. Although they do, in fact, have plenty of laws on the books, as you say, they have only selectively enforced them...and primarily in election years. The "real" message they are sending south-of-the-border is placing a welcome mat out for these people. Look at the raids they do on factories: how many factory owners have been jailed for hiring illegals? How many school districts refuse to look at residency status when enrolling kids? Banks are allowed to open accounts for illegals: where are the federal regulators there?

There is a huge wink-and-nod going on here.

Webster is right: until the problem is fixed back in these peoples' home countries, there will always be a problem here...particularly when our government welcomes them with open arms and tacitly encourages business owners to hire them (thus creating the magnet that draws them here).

[pnh102]

Webster is right: until the problem is fixed back in these peoples' home countries, there will always be a problem here...particularly when our government welcomes them with open arms and tacitly encourages business owners to hire them (thus creating the magnet that draws them here).

I agree. But the illegals who come here will have 0 incentive to fix the problems back in their home countries as long as some "Americans" continue to lay out the welcome mat for illegals to keep coming on over.

[ZULU]

And the suicidal march of western “mainstream” Christianity proceeds.

[Alex Murphy]

The pro-illegal wing of the US Catholic Church really does a major disservice to Christianity.

The problem is that the "pro-illegal wing" is the majority of the bishops leading the US Catholic Church, at least in regards to immigration.

Bishop John C. Wester, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration issued a statement on Friday... "the United States has poured billions of dollars into immigration enforcement" and the money "has not only not solved the problem but in some cases led to the abuse of migrants." He suggested more foreign aid was the answer to keeping immigrants in their home countries.
-- from the thread Bishops to the Left of Senate Dems on Immigration

Related threads:
Bishop Slattery calls for secure borders, immigration reform [Tulsa, OK]
Immigration, Politics, and the Church (Ecumenic)
Cardinal: Catholics are key to achieving immigration reform [ or stopping it ]
US Catholic Latino leaders meet with Vatican officials, discuss ‘Hispanic reality’
Welcome the Stranger (Catholic theology & Church history against illegals)
Arizona immigration law shows need for reform, Archbishop Chaput writes
Bishops to the Left of Senate Dems on Immigration
Mahony blesses L.A.'s rally [pro-(illegal)immigration rally]
Jose Gomez (future LA Archbishop), champion of illegal immigrants [2005 post]
Catholic Money and Tax Dollars Finance Illegal Alien Rally
Cardinal Mahony speaks on illegal immigration
Catholic Church Facilitates Foreign Invasion
Archbishop Timothy Dolan: Immigration Reform. Here We Go Again
US Catholic Bishops Opposition To Arizona Immigration Law Leaves Many Unanswered Questions
USCCB OPPOSE ARIZONA LAW
US Catholic church attacks 'draconian' Arizona law
Pope Benedict urges bishops to work for recognition of immigrant rights
Arizona's Proposed Illegal Immigration Crackdown Akin To Nazi Tactics, Cardinal Roger Mahony Says
Hispanics increasing Catholic numbers in US, but assimilation has downside
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Does the American Catholic Church Have a Numbers Problem?
Denver Archbishop Supports Tuition Equity [Chaput favors extending in-state tuition to illegals]
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Gathering calls for 'fair and humane' immigration policies [Catholic Bishops on immigration reform]
Journey to Justice: A Catholic Vision of Immigration
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Local Catholics celebrate diversity [Catholic "Immigration Mass" in Apple Valley, CA]
Putting faith in search for rights [Catholic "Immigration Mass" in Chicago, IL]
Praying for immigration reform [Catholic "Immigration Mass" in Los Angeles, CA]
Irish, Latino Catholics march for immigrant rights [Catholic "Immigration Mass" in San Francisco]
Catholics push for immigration reform [Catholic "Immigration Mass" in Raleigh, NC]
Catholic bishop calls deportation policies immoral
Withholding their 'amens' [Catholics object to a call for a revised immigration policy at Lent]
Denver Archdiocese Reacts To ICE Raid

[markomalley]

I agree. But the illegals who come here will have 0 incentive to fix the problems back in their home countries as long as some "Americans" continue to lay out the welcome mat for illegals to keep coming on over.

Trouble is that too many do.

Do we have a database of the companies that, at least, tacitly support illegal immigration?

When we buy a new house, do we check to make sure that there were no illegals involved in its construction? (Yeah, right, as if that is possible any more)

When we buy meat, do we check the status of the employees of the meat packer?

When we go to a fast food joint, do we turn around if we suspect that the employee is not here legally?

When we buy veggies, do we make sure that they were only harvested by Americans?

When we stay in a hotel, are we sure to check if the cleaning staff are all American (and refuse to stay in the hotel if they aren't?)

etc.

etc.

etc.

(Some may, I will admit. But I'd wager that most don't and wouldn't even think about it)

And if you support a business that is not 100% diligent in complying with the law, are you supporting illegal immigration in a fashion?

[iowamark]

So many people talk in generalities about illegal immigration without ever explicitly mentioning the hot button issues of enforcement and amnesty.

[freedomfiter2]

He’s right. The problem is that Mexico is fully permeated with corruption. Who’s going to fix that?

[raybbr]

I think you are missing his point.

underlined the need “to address the economic root causes of migration and seek economic policies which would help create jobs” in other countries.

How, exactly does he think the U.S. is supposed to accomplish this?

To me this sounds like they are advocating the U.S. go in and "change" foreign countries. Further, this sounds like the "social justice" and "economic justice" that is the cornerstone for progressiveness.

[BuffaloJack]

Creating jobs in other countries is exactly what we don’t need.
Create jobs here first.

[markomalley]

How, exactly does he think the U.S. is supposed to accomplish this?

To me this sounds like they are advocating the U.S. go in and "change" foreign countries. Further, this sounds like the "social justice" and "economic justice" that is the cornerstone for progressiveness.

Actually, I read this as the exact opposite of a "social justice" message. I read this as a pro-development message. The way I read Bishop Webster's message was to work to stimulate some economic development in the countries that are the origin of most of our illegals. Thus making it to where these people could earn a living back home rather than having to migrate thousands of miles to a place that claims to hate them but that, in fact, loves their cheap labor.

A "social justice" / "economic justice" message would be for the US to place them on welfare, but back in their home countries. I don't see where he advocated that at all.

[Little Ray]

That’s Mexico’s problem, not ours.
Our problem is to cut illegals off from the “safety net” and otherwise make the environment too hostile for them to remain.

[raybbr]

Apparently you didn't get this far:

“We live in a globalized world,” he added, “in which capital, communication, and even goods are exchanged regularly, but the movement of labor has not been regularized, and its impact on human beings not acknowledged or addressed. As the most powerful country in our hemisphere and a destination for migrants, the United States should lead the way in this effort by reforming immigration laws as soon as possible.

It's all the usual "The U.S. has to open its borders so the rest of the world can mine the streets of gold".

I understand you want the Church to be more in line with conservatism and U.S. exceptionalism but tbe bishops can never get over the fact that not enough wealth is being redistributed. Or, we're not letting enough people in here to partake of that wealth.

[markomalley]

I did, in fact, get that far.

You are attributing a meaning to his words that are not there.

We live in a globalized world in which capital, communication, and even goods are exchanged regularly… -- if you question that, where was your computer made? And its constituent components? Do you have any mutual funds in your 401(k)? I bet if you check, there is, at least, some investment in foreign companies. Ever check to see who owns Chrysler nowadays? OTOH, ever check to see who own(ed) Saab?

…but the movement of labor has not been regularized, and its impact on human beings not acknowledged or addressed… -- with 12-20 million illegals in this country, I'd say that is a pretty accurate statement. Not only here, but Europe has the same problem. And have you considered the situation that migrant workers (largely from S. Asia and the Philippines) have in the Arabian peninsula? Yeah, I'd say that the movement of labor is not regularized.

…As the most powerful country in our hemisphere and a destination for migrants, the United States should lead the way in this effort by reforming immigration laws as soon as possible. -- guess what? I think the US should reform immigration laws myself. It is patently obvious that the US needs to reform immigration laws. Here's my idea of immigration reform:

• Station active duty troops along the northern and southern borders. Provide assistance to states who wish to activate their National Guards in a Title 32 role (thereby not interfering with the Posse Comitatus statute) to augment the border patrol. Station USCG and USN ships along the southern Pacific coast and Gulf coast to interdict any shipping that may harbor illegals.
• Reword the 14th Amendment to eliminate the concept of "anchor babies"
• Arrest, try, convict, and jail for long, long, long times anybody who hires an illegal alien (that isn't being done right now). If you eliminate the economic incentive for illegals to be here, the majority will no longer desire to stay.
• Make it a federal criminal offense to use federal money to provide any sort of social service for illegal aliens; make it mandatory to confirm legal presence before disbursing any kind of social assistance involving federal funds; jail any state or local government employee who violates those rules.
• After the 14th Amendment is reworded, create refugee camps along the borders to house legitimate political refugees
• Make employers who need to hire from offshore be responsible for the well-being of the employees and make them responsible for their good conduct (make them post bonds to do so)

Do I think that the above is what he has in mind with "immigration reform?" I doubt it. But I don't automatically assume that he has the same attitude as Card. Mahony or Card. McCarrick, either. In fact, if you look at Archbishop Gomez (Mahony's coadjudicator), he has made specific statements that are quite different than Mahony's / McCarrick's. So have others, such as Bishop Vasa, Bishop Slattery, and Archbishop O'Brien.

And rather than automatically assigning codeword status to everything that has been said, I think it would be far better to look at each individual bishop's statements.

[raybbr]

Do I think that the above is what he has in mind with "immigration reform?" I doubt it. But I don't automatically assume that he has the same attitude as Card. Mahony or Card. McCarrick, either. In fact, if you look at Archbishop Gomez (Mahony's coadjudicator), he has made specific statements that are quite different than Mahony's / McCarrick's. So have others, such as Bishop Vasa, Bishop Slattery, and Archbishop O'Brien. And rather than automatically assigning codeword status to everything that has been said, I think it would be far better to look at each individual bishop's statements.

Okay, I take your point. I am so used to everyone NOT on FR and a couple of other forums being pro-illegal that unless the person comes out and says, "What don't you understand about the word 'illegal'?" then I question their motives.

Some of the quotes in this article bend along the lines of the open borders lobby and some seem more in line with what you and I believe (I agree with your points). It is still hard to know the truth about each individual bishop.

That said, the USCCB HAS put out statements in support of illegals and amnesty.

[markomalley]

That said, the USCCB HAS put out statements in support of illegals and amnesty.

No argument. The USCCB is hopelessly liberal (actually socialist IMHO).

Let me give you an extract from a recent interview with Abp Gomez (the new coadjudicator of LA):

Gomez: As we stress the Church’s moral principles, we need to be more sensitive to people’s fears. The opponents of immigration are also people of faith.

They are afraid. And their fears are legitimate.

The fact is that millions of immigrants are here in blatant violation of U.S. law. This makes law-abiding Americans angry. And it should.

We have to make sure that our laws are fair and understandable. At the same time, we have to insist that our laws be respected and enforced. Those who violate our laws have to be punished.

One big point that Gomez made: I’m not a politician. I’m a pastor of souls.

FWIW

[Belteshazzar]

Maybe if the Catholic bishops spent a little more time meditating on God’s word and seeing to the real spiritual needs of their people and a little less time declaiming politics and economics, about which they are woefully ignorant and inexperienced and to which profane duties they were not called by the Lord of the Church, they might gain a bit more respect and actually do some good. I won’t hold my breath.

[Iscool]

He’s right. The problem is that Mexico is fully permeated with corruption. Who’s going to fix that?

Mexico is a Catholic country...The corrupters are all Catholics...The Drug Lords and their murderers are Catholics...The illegal immigrants are Catholics...The politicians are all Catholics...

And this bishop says WE need to fix the problem???

[SuziQ]

Mexico needs to take care of ITS economic situation, and maybe there wouldn’t be so many people fleeing the country. People in the United States are not responsible for the economic situation of the people of Mexico.