Lest we forget, the Catholic Church was the first to prosthelytize Central and South America. Never mind that Catholicism in many of those areas was just incorporated into the tribal religions...
The Catholic Church then very much misuses Leviticus 19:33-34, taking it completely out of context to justify harboring illegal aliens.
Thing is - that passage is specifically addressed to Israel, and is meant as a way to treat visitors - those who are present on legitimate and legal business. Remember, Israel was called out to be a peculiar people to show their God to the world - His might, and His perfection. Many from other lands who came to Israel on legitimate business were mistreated, and ripped off in business.
However, you will have noticed that knowledgeable Catholics (like most FReeper Catholics, I daresay) make a (wincing) distinction between "stuff American Bishops say" and "the doctrines of the Catholic Church."
That may seem maddeningly equivocating, and again, I don't blame you for finding it so. But the fact is, the American Bishops --- as a generality, there are exceptions --- have been unwilling to teach or enforce Catholic doctrine in a comprehensive way for most of our lifetimes, and we've become almost jaded to it.
It is truly sandalous, and damaging, to see the distance between "what they say" and "Catholic doctrine." For a good, refreshing dose of doctrine, you go to the Catechism (online link, and worth looking at) and find clarity like this:
| 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. |
But we can't even get the bishops to obey to obey Canon Law, e.g. Canon 915 (onlike link, again worth looking at), which forbids the distribution of Holy Communion to those in manifest grave sin (e.g. political accomplices to abortion and sodomy.) Though lay activists are trying to admonish or shame the bishops into doing their job.
Good doctrine, bad discipline.
If you look at the whole history of the Church, the history of the Jews -- the Old Testament is very realistic about this ---, the whole history of the human race, your own (or I should say, "my own") personal history, you see a lot of that. Damn straight. Lord have mercy (40x)
Here's an example of what I've been trying to convey to my own Bishop about this illegal immigration thing. (I beg your patience: another link.)
(Is this what you were thinking of, AnAmericanMother?)